DUBAI: Islamabad United skipper Misbahul Haq on Friday lauded veteran fast bowler Muhammad Sami`s performance by calling him a ‘proven match winner’.
Sami delivered one of his best spells in T20 cricket to defend 5 runs off the last over, helping Islamabad defeat Quetta Gladiators by one run and confirming a berth in the Pakistan Super League playoffs.
Speaking about the match-changing last over, Misbah said: "He's a proven match winner and if there was someone we could turn to for the last over, it was Sami. With all of his experience, it turned out to be the right decision."
He added: "We were under pressure for 18 overs, but that's cricket. We held our nerves, stuck to a plan, and thanks to Allah it worked out."
Sami - who is celebrating his 36th birthday today - in a facebook live session said that while bowling the final over he ensured that he sticks withthe team plan.
Quetta needed just five runs off last over with six wickets in hands but Anwar Ali and Rilee Rossouw failed to complete the victory for Quetta.
Chasing a target of 166 in 20 overs, Quetta wereprovided a solid base by Ahmad Shahzad and Kevin Pietersen, but despite coming so near to the victory, Gladiators fell short.