Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi, qualify for PSL semi-final

Lahore: Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi  by 5 wickets and qualified for semi-final in first eliminator of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Alex Hales’ 62 of 49, which included three sixes and six boundaries, helped United chase down a 170-run target.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Peshawar managed 169-5, with senior former Pakistan player Kamran Akmal batting 58 of 39.

Liam Dawson smashed a six and four in the last over to help Islamabad finish the chase in 19.3 overs.

In the second eliminator on Friday, Islamabad, who won the inaugural event in 2016 and then again in 2018, will meet Lahore Qalandars.

In the final on Sunday, the winner will face the defending champions, Multan Sultans.

Hales was lucky to escape a stumping on nought by leg-spinner Ali Majid and a dropped catch on nine by the same bowler.

Hales, who was forced to travel home last week due to bubble fatigue before returning for the final matches, took full advantage of the lapses to lay the foundation.

Dawson ensured the match was not lost despite fast bowler Salman Irshad removing Shadab Khan (22), Hales, and Asif Ali (7) in a lethal spell of 3-31.

Peshawar Zalmi set 170 runs target for Islamabad United in first eliminator of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi had won the toss and elected to bat against Islamabad United.

Peshawar Zalmi have won the toss and elected to bat against Islamabad United in first eliminator of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Islamabad United come into this game on the back of three defeats and it has coincided with Shadab Khan s injury. The United skipper missed the three games due to a groin injury. Also, Alex Hales made a come back as he returned into the PSL bubble which he had left citing fatigue.

Playing XIs:
Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris, Yasir Khan, +Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Haider Ali, Benny Howell, Hussain Talat, *Wahab Riaz, Khalid Usman, Salman Irshad, Ali Majid.

Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Will Jacks, *Shadab Khan, +Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Liam Dawson, Hasan Ali, Athar Mahmood, Zahid Mahmood, Waqas Maqsood.