PSL 2018: Islamabad United Overcome Late Fightback From Peshawar Zalmi To Win Second Title
Apr 15, 2018 at 12:09 PM
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.
Congratulations @IsbUnited, the winners of #HBLPSL 2018#DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/WGywQT1HiY
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 25, 2018
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.
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:
Heartiest congratulations2 @IsbUnited for lifting the🏆Remarkable efforts by @najamsethi , Pak army,Government police&Rangers 4 making this possible&providing such an extreme entertainment for the people of Pakistan which they deserved. Highly appreciated #PakistanZindabad 🇵🇰
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 25, 2018
What a @thepslt20 it's been. Great group @IsbUnited and what a way to finish it off #champions https://t.co/X78OslTqU7
— Luke Ronchi (@ronchi04) March 25, 2018
Congrats to @IsbUnited @AliNaqvi808 @AmnaTNaqvi on being #HBLPSL3 champion.
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) March 25, 2018
Massive congratulations to @IsbUnited on winning the @thePSLt20 and @PeshawarZalmi for playing the second final in two years! Great to see cricket back in Pakistan,and i hope to be part of that experience one day! #PakistanZindaBaad
— Hardus Viljoen (@Hardus_Vilj) March 25, 2018
Congratulations @IsbUnited on winning the PSL 3 outstanding performance throughout the tournament. @PeshawarZalmi unlucky u guys always fight till the end and u did the same in the final.
— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) March 25, 2018
All @PeshawarZalmi team & management 👍👍👍, never mind ,better luck next time And very congratulations team @IsbUnited on become a championPSL32018
— Hassan Ali 🇵🇰 (@RealHa55an) March 25, 2018
Brilliant branding of PSL in Karachi. Almost every road is filled with players pictures and PSL hoardings. Can’t think of any other city that has welcomed cricket as passionately as Karachi has. #DilSeJaanLagaDe #PSL
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 25, 2018
Congratulations to the entire team of @IsbUnited – great selection to start with & the players coming through, @ronchi04 in sublime form! A night to celebrate for them & for all of us for a fantastic HBLPSL season 3!
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) March 25, 2018
#PSL Craze😍😍😍
Welcom karachi💕 pic.twitter.com/hsbz6osol8— Asad Anwer (@asadanwer01) March 23, 2018