Twitter Reactions: Hazratullah Zazai and Jonathan Wells power Peshawar Zalmi to the PSL 2021 final

The United, after topping the points table, couldn't get their act together in the Qualifier and Eliminator 2.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Hazratullah Zazai
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Hazratullah Zazai of Peshawar Zalmi. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Hazratullah Zazai, the Afghanistan left-hander, got his third POTM award in four games as Peshawar Zalmi romp to the final of the 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL). On Tuesday, the Wahab Riaz-led unit beat the Islamabad United by eight wickets to set up a final clash with the Multan Sultans. As far as the United are concerned, they faltered in the playoffs after topping the table in the league stage.

Hasan Ali provides the kick

After being asked to bat first, the United had a poor start as Usman Khawaja was run out at the non-striker’s end. Colin Munro scored 44 runs off 29 balls, but he perished to Mohammad Irfan. The Zalmi used the DRS to good effect and Munro was adjudged caught down the leg side. Brandon King, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan got into double digits, but none could carry on.

The United, once, were reduced to 110 for eight in 15.4 overs. From there on, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim stitched together a 62-run stand to bring their team back into the game. Hasan’s 16-ball 45 was laced with five fours and three sixes as the United got up to 174.

Zazai and Wells step up

In the run-chase, Kamran Akmal started with two fours before Hasan Ali castled him. Thereafter, Hazratullah Zazai and Jonathan Wells put on 126 runs for the second wicket to put the Zalmi on the driver’s seat. Zazai was a tad circumspect in the beginning as he got to his half-century off 39 balls.

He scored a 44-ball 66 before Mohammad Wasim dismissed him. Wells played a handy knock of an unbeaten 43-ball 55, seeing his team over the line. Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 32 runs off 10 balls meant that Peshawar chased the target down with as many as 19 balls to spare.

Other teams played better than us: Hasan Ali

Shadab, the United skipper, reckoned that his team couldn’t step up when put under pressure. “We didn’t put in the kind of performances (in the playoffs) that we were doing earlier. In these pressure games, it’s important to have a grip on your nerves. Other teams played better than us, credit to them,” Hasan said after the game.

Wahab, on the other hand, was happy with how his side performed. “As a captain, you have to plan the death overs and that is the reason why I saved my overs for the middle and death overs. All the bowlers have done well and though we gave away a few runs, in the end, it was good to see how we made that comeback with the bat.” Wahab said.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Peshawar Zalmi’s win:

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