Uncapped bowlers Umaid Asif and Ibtisam Sheikh helped Peshawar Zalmi to a 34-run win over Islamabad United in their Pakistan Super League match on Saturday.

Asif picked up four wickets, while Sheikh, just 19, claimed three scalps as the defending PSL champions overpowered the capital city side in all aspects of the game.

Islamabad United captain Rumman Raees, standing in for the injured Misbah-ul-Haq, won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Openers Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal looked in good form for the defending champions. Check out two of Akmal's three maximums:

He scored a 32-ball 53 before departing in this fashion.

Samit Patel was hit for two sixes in his 10th over — one by Tamim Iqbal and the other by Dwayne Smith.

Iqbal chased a well-disguised wide, slow delivery by Andre Russell and paid the price. He made 39 runs.

Soon after, Smith followed Iqbal back into the dugout.

Zalmi captain Darren Sammy was removed by Faheem Ashraf. He contributed just 9 runs to his team's cause.

Mohammad Hafeez, half-centurion in the opening day defeat to the Sultans, was once again looked towards for runs.

The United, however, bowled a tight line and length, and restricted Zalmi from amassing a huge total, which certainly was on the cards when Akmal and Iqbal were together.

Harris Sohail, meanwhile, tried accelerating the scoring but ended up getting caught at long on.

In the end, Zalmi finished with 176 run on the board.

Chadwick Walton and Luke Ronchi started the batting for the capital city side, with the former hitting Mohammad Asghar for this six in the opening over.

However, Zalmi pacer Umaid Asif removed both United openers in the second over to put his team in the driving seat.

In his next over, the 33-year-old Asif removed his namesake Asif Ali and Hussain Ali, single-handedly demolishing the Islamabad United top order.

United lost their fifth wicket in the eighth over, with Chris Jordan removing Iftikhar Ahmed.

Zalmi's Ibtisam Sheikh then showed Shadab Khan that he is not the only 19-year-old leggie with the ability to pick wickets.

The young Sheikh, after removing Shadab, struck again in the second over, this time sending Russell back to the pavilion.

Sheikh made Samit Patel his third and final victim of the day.

Ashraf showed some resistance for United.

Meanwhile, Riaz showcased his new moustache-heavy celebration.

Ashraf (54) completed his half century but had little help from the other end as United could only muster 142 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Asif was named the man of the match for his four-wicket haul.

Opinion

Editorial

Enrolment drive
Updated 10 May, 2024

Enrolment drive

The authorities should implement targeted interventions to bring out-of-school children, especially girls, into the educational system.
Gwadar outrage
10 May, 2024

Gwadar outrage

JUST two days after the president, while on a visit to Balochistan, discussed the need for a political dialogue to...
Save the witness
10 May, 2024

Save the witness

THE old affliction of failed enforcement has rendered another law lifeless. Enacted over a decade ago, the Sindh...
May 9 fallout
Updated 09 May, 2024

May 9 fallout

It is important that this chapter be closed satisfactorily so that the nation can move forward.
A fresh approach?
09 May, 2024

A fresh approach?

SUCCESSIVE governments have tried to address the problems of Balochistan — particularly the province’s ...
Visa fraud
09 May, 2024

Visa fraud

THE FIA has a new task at hand: cracking down on fraudulent work visas. This was prompted by the discovery of a...