DUBAI: Tamim Iqbal’s patient half-century backed by some impressive bowling from Mohammad Asghar and Wahab Riaz helped Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 24 runs in the Pakistan Super League at the Dubai International Stadium here on Friday night.

Asghar and Wahab took three wickets apiece while Shaun Tait claimed two as Islamabad were restricted to 121-9, thereby falling to their second successive loss in the tournament.

After 26 runs came off the first two overs bowled by Tait and Junaid Khan, Zalmi skipper Shahid Afridi turned to spin.

Asghar in his very first over sent Babar Azam back, as the batsman was deceived by the flight and was caught at long-off. Umar Amin was dismissed in Asghar’s next over as Islamabad slipped to 41-3 in six overs.

Shane Watson had to contend with Wahab, his old nemesis, who appeared to overdo the short ball. The Australian all-rounder cracked a fierce cut shot to a wide delivery but only succeeded in hitting it straight to Mohammad Hafeez at point.

Misbah-ul-Haq (12) then fell to the same trap. His dismissal, with 76 to get off eight overs, all but shut the door on Islamabad’s hopes of forcing a win. Sam Billings and Andre Russell attempted to take the game close but their dismissals, off successive Wahab deliveries, sealed Islamabad’s fate.

Earlier, Afridi won the toss and elected to bat first.

Hafeez (11 off 9), who got the innings off to a flowing start with a couple of well-timed boundaries, fell to a blinder behind the stumps from Sam Billings off the bowling of Shane Watson.

Dawid Malan (6) fell attempting to force the pace while Saeed Ajmal dismissed Kamran Akmal (8) plumb in front.

Shahid Yousuf’s dismissal for a run-a-ball 16 brought Afridi (16 off 12) to the crease. The Zalmi skipper sent the second ball of his innings for four. It was followed by Peshwar’s best segment of play with Tamim (51 off 51 balls) lifting the run-rate as well to complete a sedate half-century.

Scoreboard

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Tamim Iqbal c Watson b Russell 51

Mohammad Hafeez c Billings b Watson 11

D.J. Malan c Watson b Rumman 6

Kamran Akmal lbw b Ajmal 8

Shahid Yousuf b Russell 16

Shahid Afridi c and b Russell 16

D.J.G. Sammy run out 10

Wahab Riaz not out 9

Junaid Khan not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-10) 17

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 145

FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-33, 3-43, 4-88, 5-125, 6-125, 7-142.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Asghar, S.W. Tait.

BOWLING: Russell 4-0-31-3 (5w); Watson 4-0-37-1; Saeed Ajmal 4-0-19-1; Rumman Raees Khan 4-0-14-1 (1w); Ashar Zaidi 4-0-37-0.

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

S.R. Watson c Hafeez b Wahab 28

Sharjeel Khan b Tait 8

Babar Azam c Hafeez b Asghar 0

Umar Amin c Junaid b Asghar 4

Misbah-ul-Haq c Malan b Asghar 12

S.W. Billings c Asghar b Wahab 26

Ashar Zaidi c Kamran b Tait 2

A.D. Russell c Asghar b Wahab 12

Imran Khalid run out 4

Saeed Ajmal not out 10

Rumman Raees Khan not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-9) 11

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 121

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-30, 3-37, 4-55, 5-66, 6-70, 7-103, 8-103, 9-110.

BOWLING: Tait 4-0-24-2 (2w); Junaid Khan 4-0-30-0 (1w); Mohammad Asghar 4-0-20-3 (2w); Wahab Riaz 4-0-23-3; Shahid Afridi 4-0-22-0.

RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by 24 runs.

UMPIRES: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan) and Shozab Raza (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: J.S. Wilson (West Indies).

MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees (Pakistan).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mohammad Asghar.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2016