Islamabad United booked their place in the PSL 2024 final with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi in a nail-biting Eliminator 2 encounter. This comes after Shadab Khan’s men secured a convincing win against Quetta Gladiators in Eliminator 1.
Peshawar, who had lost the Qualifier to Multan Sultans, were given a lifeline but couldn’t capitalize. Islamabad won the toss and opted to bowl first. Zalmi managed a decent total of 185/5, thanks to a brilliant knock of 73 off 44 balls by Saim Ayub and a quickfire 40 off 25 from Mohammad Haris. Islamabad’s young pace sensation Naseem Shah was the pick of the bowlers, scalping three wickets for just 30 runs.
Islamabad’s chase got off to a shaky start with opener Alex Hales dismissed for just one run. Martin Guptill tried to provide some early impetus with a 21-ball 34, but the top order struggled to build a solid foundation. However, the middle-order duo of Imad Wasim and Haider Ali stepped up when it mattered most.
Wasim played a crucial knock, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 59 off 40 deliveries. Haider Ali, known for his explosive batting, unleashed his power with a scintillating 52 off just 29 balls. The turning point came in the 19th over. Imad smashed a four off the last ball of Luke Wood’s over, sealing the victory for his side with five wickets and an over to spare.
This win sets up a mouthwatering final clash between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans, scheduled for March 18th. Both teams have been in excellent form throughout the tournament, and cricket fans can expect a high-octane encounter to decide the PSL 2024 champion.
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Islamabad United knock Quetta Gladiators out of PSL 2024
