Twitter Reactions: Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf help Islamabad kick-start PSL 2019 with a close win

Twitterati was glad to see the defending champions start well in the tournament and lashed out at the Qalandars' middle-order batsmen.

Published - 15 Feb 2019, 10:51 IST | Updated - 15 Feb 2019, 10:51 IST

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The defending champions Islamabad United had a great start to the fourth edition of the PSL. It was Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf, who saw the team through a difficult situation and got them over the line. Their heroics under pressure helped the United register a hard and a close-fought win.

Since he contributed both with the bat as well as the ball, Faheem Ashraf was declared the ‘Man of the Match’. The Lahore Qalandars will have a lot of learnings from this encounter. They did everything right till the partnership between Asif Ali and Ashraf snatched the game from their grabs. Also, they’d be highly disappointed with the way they finished their batting innings.

Fakhar Zaman plays a splendid knock

The Qalandars were put into bat first by the Islamabad United in the first game of the season. The team got off to a blistering start with both Fakhar Zaman and Sohail Akhtar going for the big shots. In 10.4 overs, the score was 97 before Akhtar fell for 37. From this stage, the side should have at least got to 200.

However, that wasn’t the case as Zaman fell for 65. AB de Villiers and Anton Devcich were the only other batsmen who got to the double-figures. They scored 24 and 14 runs respectively. In the last 6 overs, they only managed to score 41 runs and lost 6 wickets. Thus, they could put up just 171 runs on the board for the loss of 8 wickets. Faheem Ashraf picked two wickets in the innings.

Rahat Ali picks up 3 wickets in an over but not enough to save the game

Luke Ronchi gave a great start to the Islamabad United in the chase. With 45 runs on the board in the first five overs, they were on great course. However, Rahat Ali struck thrice in the last over of the powerplay bringing the score down to 49/3. After this, there was a good partnership between Cameron Delport and Hussain Talat. But it came at a very slow pace.

Yet, this ensured that they got as close as possible to the target. Both of them perished before the 15th over with the team still requiring 48 runs to win in the last five. Faheem Ashraf and Asif Ali took over from here and got the big shots going. While Ali scored 36 off 19 balls, Ashraf piled up 23 runs in 11 deliveries. Twitterati was glad to see the defending champions start well in the tournament and lashed out at the Qalandars’ middle-order batsmen.

Here is how Twitterati reacted:

Bad luck boys in green shirts, those 2 sixes by Asif Ali changed the game! Well played Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf!#HBLPSL2019
— Danish Kaleem (@danesh_kaleem) February 14, 2019

The deadly duo 👊🏻 Faheem Ashraf & Asif Ali 🤙🏻 Won it for Islamabad United 🏅🏅#HBLPSL #PSL4 #IsluVsLQ pic.twitter.com/0S1jGxndZk
— Fantasy Cric League (@LeagueCric) February 14, 2019

Faheem ashraf: Azhar Bhai yahan Hain nahi, un ko mention karna chahon ga. hamari waja se un ko South Africa tour main bohat batain suni pari, ye award main un ko dedicate karta hon.
— Ahsan Masood Tanoli (@AhsanTanoli) February 14, 2019

I just loved the way how Faheem Ashraf spoke at the post match presentation.#IUvLQ #HBLPSL2019
— Hassaan Ahmed (@AhmedPK5) February 14, 2019

Faheem ashraf was really top-class today, good for him.
— corrupt lungs (@AsharBughio) February 15, 2019

Faheem ashraf in Islamabad United: Burj khalifa
Faheem ashraf in International Cricket: Mia Khalifa
— H A i D E R 🔥 (@AnasHaiDer10) February 15, 2019

Faheem Ashraf and Asif Ali are good only for Islamabad United, stay with it. #PSL4 #IUvLQ
— Muhammad Noman (@Noman2294) February 15, 2019

V well played @IslamabadUnited
Excellent temperament shown by Faheem Ashraf.
— DCChiniot (@ChiniotDc) February 15, 2019

Dear ICC,
Please Allow Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf and Asif Ali to play Int'l cricket while wearing Islamabad United's jersey.
Sincerely, A Pakistani Cricket fan.#HBLPSL2019 #LQvIU #IUvLQ #Erfaniyat
— Erfaniyat (@Erfaniyat) February 15, 2019

@adeel_azhar how ironic that faheem Ashraf hit the winning runs in the final of 2018 n in yesterday opening match….both were sixes
— Shoaib Jamil (@shoaibjiqbal) February 15, 2019

Proud of my team. @IsbUnited always keeps fighting and coming back. Really happy with the performance of all the boys under pressure situations. Good start, long way to go, we need to build on this. #UnitedWeWin
— Muhammad Sami (@Bullet_Sami) February 14, 2019

Great victory in the opening match for @IsbUnited. My boys @iFaheemAshraf & @AasifAli2018, I am proud of you and the entire team. #UnitedWeWin pic.twitter.com/r6YJICh8HM
— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) February 14, 2019

Faheem Ashraf "After the South Africa tour Azhar Mahmood has had to hear a lot of criticism because of me, but I want to dedicate today's man of the match award to him" #PSL4
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 14, 2019

Haris Rauf in his first 2 overs in the Pakistan Super League has bowled 5 deliveries over 140kph. The quickest has been 145kph#PSL4
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 14, 2019

What the Pakistan Super League is all about – young Pakistani cricketers like Shadab Khan and Hussain Talat getting the chance to bowl to the great AB de Villiers #IUvLQ
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 14, 2019

Terrific win for @IsbUnited. Really happy to contribute with both bat & ball. It was a team effort, thank you everyone for your support. #UnitedWeWin pic.twitter.com/8KjLSmX9nr
— Faheem Ashraf (@iFaheemAshraf) February 14, 2019

Defending Champions 'Islamabad United' start Pakistan Super League 2019 with a last over win. powerful performance by @IsbUnited. Good start to the 4th edition of PSL. #Cricket @thePSLt20
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) February 14, 2019

Another heartbreaking result for fans and supporters of Lahore Qalandars. Losing the game after such a brilliant start is really disappointing. Any way, it’s just the first game, hope they make a strong comeback in this tournament.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) February 14, 2019

Ramiz "you were seeing the ball well despite it being 1.30am"
Faheem Ashraf "it's because I woke up late today and you know we Pakistanis we stay up till late"#PSL4
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 14, 2019

Islamabad United showing their batting strength once again. Such a versatile batting line-up – today Samit Patel and Shadab Khan would have batted at number 8 & 9 if required #IUvLQ #PSL4
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 14, 2019

Lahore Qalandars only have themselves to blame – they should have been looking at a total of 190-200 after being 125/1 in the 14th over #IUvLQ #PSL4
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 14, 2019