Sharjah - Brilliant batting by Sharjeel Khan and Shane Watson guided Islamabad United to a big eight-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2016 ninth match played here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday night.
Chasing a tough target of 167 runs, Islamabad United started their campaign in great style and with the first-wicket partnership between Shane Watson and Sharjeel Khan, hammered 153 runs. Both the smashers played freely to every corner of the ground and made the Lahore Qalandars bowlers helpless. Ehsan Adil then came to rescue Qalandars by taking Watson’s wicket as his individual score of 47-ball 79 runs having four boundaries and seven sixes, but it proved too little too late as United had almost reached home and needed only 14 runs to win with two wickets in hand.
Russel then took the charge but couldn’t stay at the crease and gave his wicket to Eshan Adil at the total score of 157 runs. Bradd Haddin then came to the crease but it was Sharjeel who was prevailing and continued his killing form. He finished the match in great style by scoring a giant six on the 15.5 ball to confirm victory for his team which made his individual score 79 not out with five fours and seven sixes. For his sparkling batting performance, Sharjeel was named man of the match.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars set a tough target of 167 runs for Islamabad United in the. After sent into bat by Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars were losing wickets at regular intervals but later, an aggressive batting display by M Rizwan, they made a good score of 166-6 in the allotted 20 overs. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 50, facing just 27 balls, smashing three sixes and five boundaries. Other significant contributors were captain Azhar Ali (27), Darren Bravo (26), Naved Yasin (25) and Umar Akmal (23). For Islamabad United, fast bowler M Sami captured two wickets for 21.
Speaking at the occasion after the match, winning Islamabad captain Watson said: “For us, to restrict Lahore to 166 was an awesome effort. Sharjeel hits the ball, very powerful batter. I struggled early on and he took some pressure off me. The local talent is incredible. The young batsmen have some really good skills. It has been a exciting tournament. The last game was close and important.”
Lahore captain Azhar Ali said: “It was a tough day. It was a 180-wicket with the short boundary. The second half they dew came up, and it was tough on bowlers. I think we need to improve out fielding.”
PSL Point Table
Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts
Gladiators 4 3 1 0 0 6
Zalmi 3 2 1 0 0 4
United 4 2 2 0 0 4
Kings 3 1 2 0 0 2
Qalandars 4 1 3 0 0 2
Scoreboard
LAHORE QALANDARS:
Azhar Ali lbw b Sami 27
C Delport b Sami 3
Naved Yasin c Haddin b Ajmal 25
Umar Akmal lbw b Imran 23
D Bravo run out 26
M Rizwan not out 50
K Cooper c&b Rumman 0
Zohaib Khan not out 3
EXTRAS: (lb2, w7) 9
TOTAL: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 166
FOW: 1-20, 2-46, 3-87, 4-89, 5-149, 6-163
BOWLING: A Russell 4-0-34-0, S Watson 2-0-24-0, M Sami 3-0-21-2, Rumman Raees 4-0-37-1, Imran Khalid 2-0-16-1, Saeed Ajmal 4-0-26-1, Kamran Ghulam 1-0-6-0
ISLAMABAD UNITED:
S Watson c Rizwan b Ehsan 79
Sharjeel Khan not out 79
A Russell c Akmal b Ehsan 2
B Haddin not out 0
EXTRAS: (lb3, w6) 9
TOTAL: (2 wkts; 15.5 overs) 169
FOW: 1-153, 2-157
BOWLING: D Bravo 4-0-28-0, Ehsan Adil 3.5-0-41-2, K Cooper 2-0-29-0, Zafar Gohar 2-0-15-0, A Mendis 2-0-23-0, Zohaib Khan 2-0-30-0
TOSS: Islamabad United
MAN OF MATCH: Sharjeel Khan
UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pak), J Wilson (WI)
TV UMPIRE: Shozab Raza (Pak)
MATCH REFEREE: M Anees (Pak)