SHARJAH: For the second match running in the HBL Pakistan Super League on Friday, a struggling side bounced back to improve its playoff aspirations as holders Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The architects behind United’s resurgence were Mohammad Musa Khan and Mohammad Sami, two pacemen at different stages of their cricketing career.

The 18-year-old Musa marked his maiden appearance in the glitzy world of Twenty20 cricket with a magnificent return of three wickets for 25 runs.

Sami, the former Pakistan player, put the icing on United’s cake with a hat-trick as an early birthday gift for himself. Sami turns 38 on Sunday.

Wahab Riaz, who banged an eight-ball 20 and had threatened to stop United moving up the ladder into third place, was nicely caught in the covers by Sahibzada Farhan. The decision needed the TV umpire’s help to make sure that the catch was taken.

The next ball saw Umaid Asif sending his heave down Faheem Ashraf’s throat at long-off. Sami sent back Hasan Ali as Farhan took another catch in the covers, giving the veteran speedster a neat return of 3-22 in 3.4 overs and the Man Of the Match award.

Kieron Pollard stood tall with the bat for Zalmi, smashing a quickfire 51 from 22 balls before he was held brilliantly almost on the edge of the fence by substitute Phil Salt.

Earlier, ex-England batsman Ian Bell held United’s innings together with a cool-headed 46-ball 54 on his PSL debut. His knock was embellished with six fours.

In Saturday’s double-header, leaders Quetta Gladiators take on Lahore Qalandars in the first match while the night fixture pits Islamabad United against Karachi Kings.

Scoreboard

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

L. Ronchi c Dawson b Sameen21

S. Farhan c Dawson b Sameen15

I.R. Bell run out54

Hussain Talat c Kamran b Pollard0

C.S. Delport b Hasan29

Asif Ali c Wahab b Sameen13

Faheem Ashraf c Umar b Umaid2

Shadab Khan b Wahab6

S.R. Patel b Hasan5

Mohammad Sami not out2

Mohammad Musa Khan not out0

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-3, NB-1)11

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs)158

FALL OF WKTS: 1-32, 2-47, 3-49, 4-105, 5-120, 6-131, 7-143, 8-148, 9-157.

BOWLING: Hasan Ali 4-0-29-2; Sameen Gul 4-0-29-3; Umaid Asif 4-0-37-1 (3w); Wahab Riaz 4-0-31-1 (1nb); Pollard 3-0-20-1; Dawson 1-0-5-0.

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Kamran Akmal c sub b Musa7

Imam-ul-Haq c Sami b Faheem18

D.J. Malan c Patel b Musa1

Umar Amin c Faheem b Patel14

L.A. Dawson c Hussain b Shadab21

K.A. Pollard sub b Faheem51

D.J.G. Sammy c sub b Musa11

Wahab Riaz c Farhan b Sami20

Hasan Ali c Farhan b Sami2

Umaid Asif c Faheem b Sami0

Sameen Gul not out0

EXTRAS (W-1)1

TOTAL (all out, 19.4 overs)146

FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-26, 3-26, 4-58, 5-65, 6-120, 7-134, 8-146, 9-146.

BOWLING: Patel 4-0-38-1; Mohammad Sami 3.4-0-22-3; Mohammad Musa Khan 4-0-25-3; Faheem Ashraf 4-0-32-2 (1w); Shadab Khan 4-0-29-1.

RESULT: Islamabad United won by 12 runs.

UMPIRES: M.A. Gough (England) and R.K. Illingworth (England).

TV UMPIRE: Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees (Pakistan).

MAN OF THE MATCH: Mohammad Sami.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2019