KARACHI (Monitoring Desk): Faheem Ashraf finished with career-best figures of 6-19 to propel Islamabad United to beat Lahore Qalandars by 49 runs in a high-scoring match at National Stadium Karachi on Saturday.
David Wiese came down the pitch to hit the ball hard but edged it and gave away a simple catch at covers where skipper Sami made no mistake. Wiese scored just 12 runs.
A straighter delivery from Shadab Khan sent Rikki Wessels back to the pavilion for naught.
Asif Ali at point region took a good catch to send Haris Sohail back to the pavilion for naught.
Faheem Ashraf got rid of dangerous Fakhar Zaman as Philip Salt took a brilliant catch on long-on. He made 38 runs.
Faheem Ashraf brought the first breakthrough for Islamabad United after Lahore Qalandars posted 50 runs in just four overs. Anton Devcich misjudged the ball which was wide on the off and gave a simple catch at covers.
Cameron Delport blasted his way to scoring the fastest century of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) off 49 balls which guided Islamabad United to post record 238 runs against Lahore Qalandars in the 27th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season four at Karachi’s National Stadium on Saturday.
Delport scored 117 runs including 13 boundaries and six maximums as United scored highest runs in the history of PSL. Asif Ali (55) and Chadwick Walton (48) further strengthen the total of United which put Qalandars under immense pressure.
After sending United to bat first, Qalandars got two early breakthroughs with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sandeep Lamichhane taking a wicket each. Afridi was on song sending Luke Ronchi back to the pavilion on the first ball of the inning. Ronchi walked back on naught.
Later, Lamichhane hunt Philip Salt to reduce Qalandars to 32-2. Philip Salt danced down the pitch to loft the ball but misjudged it completely and the ball went straight in the hands of Haris Sohail who was covering mid-off.
Thereafter, Walton (48) along with Cameron Delport put 118 runs off 67 balls on the scoreboard for the third wicket. David Wiese bowled a perfect yorker at middle stumps to get rid of Chadwick Walton who fell just two runs short to his half-century.
In the end, Asif scored joint-fastest half-century of the PSL on just 17 balls to give United further edge in the match.
The skipper of Lahore Qalandars Fakhar Zaman has won the toss and decided to field first against Islamabad United.
“The pitch looks good to bat on. I think chasing on this surface would be an easy task for us,” Fakhar said after winning the toss.
Mohammad Sami, on the other hand, is eying a win to qualify for the playoffs in front of home crowd. “Toss is not in our hand hence we will try to make the most of this opportunity,” he said.
