Asif Ali put a show with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a right-handed opener, who scored a quickfire half-century to help Islamabad United defeat Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets in the 12th game of the eighth season of the Pakistan Premier League (PSL). Despite having just 157 to bat for, the United easily cruised to a six-wicket win with 31 balls remaining thanks to a brilliant half-century by Gurbaz. Prior to that, despite his partner Colin Munro dying cheaply for just nine, United’s opener Gurbaz gave his team a strong start.
The right-handed batsman attacked the Zalmi bowling, hitting 61 runs in only nine overs and reaching his half-century in just 24 deliveries. On his route to 61, Gurbaz faced only 31 balls and blasted seven boundaries and four sixes. Before being dismissed in the 13th over, when his team required only 17 in 42 deliveries, Rassie van der Dussen had short but critical partnerships with Shadab Khan (3) and Asif Ali. In only 29 pitches, he collected 42 points while launching six long balls.
Asif Ali’s blitz 29* against Zalmi’s
After being dismissed, Asif Ali (29*) and Azam Khan (9*) went on an unbroken match-winning partnership that carried his team to a commanding six-wicket victory. On 29, Asif Ali was still undefeated. He only faced 13 pitches, yet he hit four boundaries, including three sixes. Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal, and James Neesham could all get a wicket for Zalmi.
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When given the opportunity to bat first, the Zalmi were only able to reach 156/8 in 20 overs despite the captain’s valiant 75-run innings and Mohammad Haris’ quick-fire 41. The opening pair of Zalmi got the team off to a fast start against the United, putting up 76 runs in only seven overs until Shadab got the breakthrough by getting rid of Haris with the last ball.
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In only 20 deliveries, Haris scored 41 runs while hitting four boundaries and a six. Saim Ayub, a promising young batsman, was dismissed by Mubasir Khan for three runs in the next over, and in the following over, Hasan Ali struck twice to put Zalmi on the back foot and bring the score to 88/4 after 10 overs. Zalmi’s progress toward a high score was interrupted as they were unable to recover from the collapse and continued losing wickets at an alarming pace.
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Babar Azam, on the other hand, maintained his composure and batted all the way through, although Zalmi was prevented from scoring a significant score due to some tight bowling from the United. Babar, the team’s captain, continued to lead the way with 75 off 58 deliveries, including seven boundaries and a six. Hasan led the United’s bowling assault with 3/35, while Shadab, Rumman Raees, Faheem Ashraf, and Mubasir each claimed one victim.
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