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Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed a quick-fire fifty as Islamabad United on Thursday beat Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets in the 12th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.
On the strength of an electrifying half-century by Gurbaz, the United easily cruised to a six-wicket victory with 31 balls to spare despite having just 157 to bat.
United’s opener Gurbaz gave his team a strong start despite losing Colin Munro for just nine on board.
The right-handed charged on the Zalmi bowlers as he brought up his half-century in just 24 deliveries before falling in the ninth over after scoring a quickfire 61. Gurbaz faced a mere 31 balls on his way to 61, hitting seven boundaries and four sixes.
Before being dismissed in the 13th over, when his team required just 17 in 42 deliveries, Rassie van der Dussen had brief but critical partnerships with Shadab Khan (3) and Asif Ali. In just 29 balls, he scored 42 runs while launching six boundaries.
For Zalmi, Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal and James Neesham could pick up a wicket.
Batting first, the Zalmi could only manage 156/8 in 20 overs despite a valiant 75-run inning from their captain Babar Azam and a quick-fire 41 from Mohammad Haris.
The team got off to a fast start against the United thanks to the opening pair of Zalmi, who added 76 runs in just seven overs until Shadab got the breakthrough by getting rid of Haris with the penultimate delivery. Haris scored quickfire 41 runs off just 20 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and a six.
Hasan led the bowling attack for the United with 3/35 while Shadab, Rumman Raees, Faheem Ashraf and Mubasir made one scalp each.
Playing XI
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris (wk), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Dasun Shanaka, James Neesham, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal, Sufyan Muqeem
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (capt), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Mubasir Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees
