PSL 2018: Islamabad United Overcome Late Fightback From Peshawar Zalmi To Win Second Title

Apr 15, 2018 at 12:09 PM

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PSL 2018: Islamabad United Overcome Late Fightback From Peshawar Zalmi To Win Second Title

Riding on Luke Ronchi’s whirlwind fifty, Islamabad United defeated defending champions Peshawar Zalmi to win their second title in three years. The former New Zealand ‘keeper-batsman smacked 52 off just 26, helping Islamabad chase down 149 inside 17 overs.

The mini-battle between Kamran Akmal and Luke Ronchi was billed by many as the deciding factor in the final. And in the end, it turned out to be true.  While Akmal failed to get going when it mattered the most, Ronchi left his mark in the title-decider to steer his side to the glory.

Islamabad were cruising at one stage while chasing the modest total. Their openers Ronchi and Sahibzada Farhan had all but sealed the fate of the game by adding 96 runs in less than 9 overs. However, the game turned on its head when Ronchi was dismissed by Chris Jordan. The winners of the inaugural season went on to lose 5 more wickets for just 20 runs. From 96 for 0, Islamabad were reduced to 116 for 6. It opened the game completely as scoring even a run became a gigantic task.

The 15th over then witnessed a match-defining moment when Akmal dropped Asif Ali with the ball travelling miles up in the air. The worse was yet to come. After Akmal dropped the catch, the fine leg fielder threw the ball when there was no one backing up and it went for a four as Islamabad collected six runs off that delivery.

In the very next over, Asif hit Hasan Ali for three consecutive sixes in the 16th over to kill Peshawar’s hopes. With one needed, Faheem Ashraf hooked Wahab Riaz for six to guide Islamabad to a thrilling win.

Earlier in the game, Peshawar looked like a pale shadow of the team that won four do-or-die encounters on the trot. They suffered a big blow early on when their in-form opener Akmal was out lbw for 1 off 8.  A fifty-partnership for the fourth wicket between Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson ensured that the defending champions post a respectable total.

Islamabad restricted Peshawar to 148 (Credits: Getty)

They eventually huffed and puffed to 148, thanks to a sublime cameo from Wahab Riaz, who whacked 28 off 14.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

 

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