Peshawar march past Islamabad in first match
Asghar steal show with his tight spin bowling and spectacular catches
Dubai: Peshawar Zalmi’s all-round bowling attack helped them outplay Islamabad United by 24 runs in their first match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Dubai International Stadium.
It was a treat to watch Peshawar destroy Islamabad’s formidable batting line-up through Australian right arm pacer Shaun Tait, Pakistan’s left-arm speedster Wahab Riaz and left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar. Tait picked two wickets while Riaz and Asghar took three wickets each to restrict Islamabad to 121 for 9 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Peshawar had posted a challenging 145 for seven in 20 overs, with Bangladesh’s hard-hitting opener Tamim Iqbal cracking a run-a-ball 51 runs with three boundaries and a six.
Islamabad chased the total poorly. Tait struck the first blow - bowling opener Sharjeel Khan for eight. Asghar too struck two vital blows with his accurate spin dismissing Babar Azam for a duck and Umar Amin for four. Riaz won his usual duel with Watson by having him caught by Hafeez at point. Asghar forced skipper Misbah-ul-Haq to play into the hands of Dawid Malan at long-off for 12. Half the Islamabad side back in the pavilion for 66 in 11 overs, Peshawar then went for the kill.
Asghar went on to take two spectacular catches. The first was a powerful cut from Russell off Riaz which he dived and took brilliantly and another of Sam Billing which was also a powerful cut which he took over the shoulder. It was Islamabad’s second successive defeat after losing to Quetta Gladiators in the opening match.
Brief scores
Peshawar Zalmi bt Islamabad United by 24 runs. Peshawar 145 for seven in 20 overs (Tamim Iqbal 51, Andre Russell 3 for 31) vs Islamabad 121 for 9 in 20 overs (Shane Watson 28, Sam Billings 26; Mohammad Asghar 3 for 20, Wahab Riaz 3 for 23, Shaun Tait 2 for 24) Man of the match: Mohammad Asghar.
