Pakistan Super League 2019: 1st Match, Islamabad United Vs Lahore Qalandars - Report

Pakistan Super League 2019: 1st Match, Islamabad United Vs Lahore Qalandars – Report; The first game of the season has delivered the goods to entertain the fans. Both Islamabad and Lahore displayed top-class skills to involve in a thriller match at Dubai, in which, Islamabad United takes the final honours.

1st Innings:

Initially, it was Islamabad United, who won the toss and asked the opposition to bat first. Fakhar Zaman once again came to the party to display his skills for the team. Zaman alongside Sohail Akhtar started things off in a flash to add 97 runs for the first wicket.

Flighted delivery from Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman (65) chases it only to mistime it towards the fielder. Lahore Qalandars 135/2 after 15 overs

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Then came in the lineup was the master man AB de Villiers, who scored 24 runs off 17 balls. He was quickly followed by Anton Devich, who was dismissed by Faheem Ashraf with an electric fielding. Earlier, Ashraf sent back Akhtar with a brilliant delivery.

After the kind of a start, Islamabad would have expected them to finish over 200. However, the brilliant piece of death bowling saw them being restricted to 171 runs on the board. Faheem picked up 2 wickets while Sami, Maqssod, Shadab and Delport picked one each.

2nd Innings:

In reply, Luke Ronchi and Rizwan started their innings cautiously, who added 45 runs in 5 overs. However, in the final over of the powerplay, the duo walked back in the consecutive deliveries of Rahat Ali over.

Adding insult to the injury, Philip Salt was also dismissed in the same over, which made scorecard read 49/3 in 6 overs. However, Cameron Delport and Hussain Talat balanced things with their gritty knocks.

Just when things looked drifting away for Lahore, then came the stunning knock of 36 runs from 19 balls that saw a remarkable turnaround. In addition, Faheem Ashraf gave the finishing blows with a 23-run knock off 11 balls to shoulder team over the line.

Faheem Ashraf was awarded the man of the match for his all-around performance. For Islamabad, Rahat Ali finished with 4 wickets in his 4-over spell that leaked 29 runs.

Brief Scores:

Lahore Qalandars – 171/8 (Fakhar Zaman 65, Sohail 37, Faheem 2/24)

Islamabad United – 177/5 (Hussain Talat 37, Asif Ali 36*, Rahat Ali 4/49)