Islamabad United lost five wickets in seven balls – adding just two runs – in a dramatic lower-order implosion, losing their PSL 2024 match against Peshawar Zalmi from a position of strength in Lahore.
Colin Munro and Azam Khan starred in a 101-run partnership in just 46 balls as United moved closer to achieving their 202-run target. But things changed dramatically when Azam fell on the last ball of the 18th over and Munro flew on the next ball.
Twenty-nine-year-old attacker Arif Yaqoub dismissed Haider Ali two balls later, then Faheem Ashraf and Hunain Shah missed successive balls, sending United into a spiral. They needed 21 in the last two innings and 20 in the last over.
Naseem Shah hit a six in the 20th over to keep the game alive, but Imad Wasim’s dismissal all but ended his hopes.
They finished 193-9, eight points short of the goal.
To put things into perspective, apart from Munro and Azam’s 71 and 75 points, the rest of the team scored a total of 44 points.
Arif Yaqoob became the second Zalmi bowler to take five or more wickets in a PSL match after Shahid Afridi took 5-16 for his team in 2016. In his second-to-last over, he took his four wickets and conceded only his two [a one-leg walkover].
Ahead of Azam and Munro’s blitz, Babar Azam scored a scintillating hundred, becoming the second player in the PSL to push Zalmi past 200 points. Unbeaten on 111 of his 63 balls, Zalmi recovered from his 124-5 tally.
ARIF YAQOOB HAS 5️⃣ 🫡
We just experienced the most amazing thing 😱#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #PZvIU Image. twitter.com/fWTEakQgFg
– Pakistan Super League (@thePSLt20) 26. February 2024
MATCH HAS TURNED ON ITS HEAD 🤯
A wicket falls in Lahore! #HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #PZvIU Build. twitter.com/ucOqPciBEU
– Pakistan Super League (@thePSLt20) 26. February 2024
