DUBAI: Inspired by a startling debut performance from Umaid Asif, HBL Pakistan Super League champions Peshawar Zalmi roared back into reckoning by handing inaugural PSL winners Islamabad United a 34-run thrashing here on Saturday.

After being sent in by Rumman Raees, who was installed in as the Islamabad skipper in place of Misbah-ul-Haq for this fixture, Peshawar’s top four batted their side to a total of 176-6 that Islamabad couldn’t match due to the excellent exhibition of seam bowling from debutant Umaid.

Taking advantage of his tall height, the 28-year-old Umaid — who wasn’t even considered for PSL selection during the player draft last year — justified his inclusion as a last-minute replacement for the injured Pakistan strike bowler Hasan Ali.

The Lahore all-rounder made an impact instantly with his second delivery as Chadwick Walton scooped a simple catch for Wahab Riaz at mid on. Umaid then struck again three balls when Walton’s opening partner Luke Ronchi lobbed another chance that Wahab took in the same position.

Umaid — who grabbed career-best figures of 4-23 in his four overs — then replicated the same dose in his second over with another double strike; Asif Ali holing out to Mohammad Hafeez at deep square leg and Hussain Talat failing to get on top of a bouncing delivery with Kamran Akmal completing the catch to leave Islamabad in dire straits on the brink at 25-4.

At that point Umaid had taken four wickets for 10 runs before Islamabad regrouped for a while before losing their way again as Chris Jordan got rid of Iftikhar Ahmed.

It was then the turn of 19-year-old Ibtisam Sheikh to enjoy the limelight with his first three wickets in the PSL after a tough debut on Thursday night. The bespectacled kid from Hyderabad first sent back fellow leg-spinner Shadab Khan while taking a brilliant return catch running back.

The big-hitting Andre Russell holed out to deep midwicket. Ibtisam bagged his third victim in his third over when Samit Patel providing Peshawar skipper Darren Sammy a simple catch in the covers.

Man-of-the-match Umaid, meanwhile, was denied a deserved fifth wicket when Fahim Ashraf — the solitary shining star for Islamabad — was dropped by Tamim Iqbal on two. Fahim not only went to reach a 30-ball 54 (six fours and two sixes) but also ensuring Islamabad bat out their quota which ended with them on 142-9.

Earlier, Kamran made up for duck in the Peshawar’s first match by striking a blistering 53 off only 32 balls as the pugnacious right-hander blasted seven fours and three sixes while outscoring Tamim Iqbal (39 off 29, two sixes and two fours) in their opening stand of 69 in 45 deliveries.

Dwayne Smith and Hafeez also made good contributions of 30 apiece to enable Peshawar get to halfway stage in a commanding position.

Scoreboard

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Tamim Iqbal c Shadab b Russell 39
Kamran Akmal c Walton b Patel 53
D.R. Smith c and b Fahim 30
Mohammad Hafeez not out 30
D.J.G. Sammy b Fahim 9
Haris Sohail c Russell b Sami 4
Wahab Riaz b Rumman 7

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 176

FALL OF WKTS: 1-69, 2-121, 3-125, 4-136, 5-164, 6-176.

DID NOT BAT: Umaid Asif, C.J. Jordan, Ibtisam Sheikh, Mohammad Asghar.

BOWLING: Mohammad Sami 3-0-20-1; Rumman Raees 4-0-26-1 (2w); Russell 3-0-37-1 (1w); Fahim Ashraf 4-0-37-2; Shadab Khan 4-0-34-0; Patel 2-0-21-1.

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

L. Ronchi c Wahab b Umaid 3
C.A.K. Walton c Wahab b Umaid 11
Asif Ali c Hafeez b Umaid 7
Iftikhar Ahmed c Tamim b Jordan 9
Hussain Talat c Kamran b Umaid 2
S.R. Patel c Sammy b Ibtisam 23
Shadab Khan c and b Ibtisam 2
A.D. Russell c Asghar b Ibtisam 11
Fahim Ashraf not out 54
Mohammad Sami c and b Wahab 6
Rumman Raees not out 11

EXTRAS (W-3) 3

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 142

FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-16, 3-22, 4-25, 5-46, 6-50, 7-63, 8-73, 9-111.

BOWLING: Mohammad Asghar 3-0-26-0; Umaid Asif 4-0-23-4 (1w); Wahab Riaz 4-0-21-1 (1w); Jordan 4-0-33-1; Ibtisam Sheikh 4-0-20-3; Sammy 1-0-19-0.

RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by 34 runs.

UMPIRES: R.E.J. Martinesz (Sri Lanka) and Rashid Riaz (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: Ahmed Shahab (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees (Pakistan).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Umaid Asif.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018