Islamabad United started on a grand note after winning the opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The unbeaten 59-run stand between Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf help beat Lahore Qalandars by five wickets.
Islamabad United started on a grand note after winning the opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The unbeaten 59-run stand between Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf help beat Lahore Qalandars by five wickets.
Qalandars had put together a punishing 97-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Sohail Akhtar and comfortably sat at 129/1 in the 14th over. Zaman notched up his third PSL fifty after Akhtar's wicket and had AB de Villiers for company at the other end.
However, Shadab Khan took the crucial Zaman’s wicket and the batting order started to collapse leaving Qalandars with just 172 on the scoreboard.
United were on a steady pace chasing the score, however not long before Rahat Ali over happened and the destruction started. Rizwan Hussain, Luke Ronchi, and Philip Salt all fell in one over.
Hussain Talat and Cameron Delport managed to add 20 runs in the next four overs however Rahat Ali’s return saw Delport leaving the pitch.
Ashraf and Asif Ali got together in the 15th over when United needed 54 from 5.2 overs. Ashraf hit a six in the second ball and followed it up with a couple of boundaries, bringing the run-rate back under control. He also spurred on Asif Ali, who pulled off back-to-back sixes off Rahat Ali's last over.
With 12 runs needed off the last two overs, both Asif Ali and Ashraf hit a six each with the latter’s hit sealing the game with four balls to spare.
Brief Scores:
Lahore Qalandars 171/8 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 65, Faheem Ashraf 2-24) lost to Islamabad United 177/5 in 19.2 overs (Hussain Talat 37, Asif Ali 36*, Rahat 4-29) by five wickets.
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 "Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf of Islamabad United (R) and Rahat Ali of Lahore Qalandars")
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