PSL 2018, Match 4 Review: Defending Champions Peshawar Zalmi register their first win this season

After getting humiliated at the hands of Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi have worked things out well and came out with flying colours on Saturday. Their batsmen shined with some decent contributions and the debutant Umaid Asif bowled an absolutely brilliant spell to help their side register a 34-run win for the Zalmi.

Batting first, Tamim Iqbal and Kamran Akmal helped them get off to a flying start. The duo registered 69 runs for the opening wicket and Akmal had completed a spectacular half-century inside 7 overs. After Akmal’s dismissal in the 8th over, Dwayne Smith joined the party alongside Iqbal. They both added 42 runs for the second wicket.

Mohammad Hafeez ensured their side got a decent finish after Smith and Iqbal fell in quick succession. Zalmi eventually managed to post a total of 176 runs on the board, losing 6 wickets. Kamran Akmal remained the top-scorer for the innings with 53 runs after his name. Faheem Ashraf picked up a brace for the Islamabad United with the figures of 2/37.

Umaid Asif runs riot with the ball

Veteran Umaid Asif ran riot with the ball to help the Zalmi restrict the United side a long way away from the total. He picked up the wickets of Luke Ronchi and Chadwick Walton in his very first over and in his next over, he sent back Asif Ali and Hussain Talat. He had picked up a 4-fer inside the Powerplay, which pretty much shut the doors for United.

Towards the second half of this innings, Ibtisam Sheikh bowled brilliantly to dismantle the middle and lower order. Whilst Umaid Asif returned with figures of 4/23 in 4 overs, Sheikh returned with figures of 3/20 in 4 overs. The target was way out of their reach with both these bowlers running riot and the United had a torrid time dealing with them.

Faheem Ashraf played some terrific shots towards the end and registered a scintillating fifty. But that could only help them lower the win-margin for Zalmi. United finished with 142 runs losing 9 wickets in their 20 overs and they conceded the match by 34 runs. This was a big win for Darren Sammy and his men after having lost the first game badly.

Brief Scores

Peshawar Zalmi: 176/6 in 20 overs (Kamran Akmal 53, Tamim Iqbal 39)

Islamabad United: 142/9 in 20 overs (Faheem Ashraf 54*; Umaid Asif 4/23)

Player of the match: Umaid Asif

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