Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 26 runs to go top of the PSL standings on Friday night.
JP Duminy starred with the bat, with an unbeaten 73 to help the team post their highest PSL total of 182-5, while Samit Patel claimed four wickets for the 2016 winners.
Here are the key points from the match:
JP Duminy makes Peshawar Zalmi pay
SIX! 14.6 Liam Dawson to JP Duminy
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 9, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/zr4lRaWRAW#PZvIU #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/ffU1JEt186
The South African’s highest score in this year’s competition was his unbeaten 43 against Karachi Kings, but that score was smashed by some distance.
The left-hander was lucky to still be at the crease when dropped by Liam Dawson on 18 and the veteran batsman made the most of his opportunity.
Rotating the strike even when wickets were falling, he was not afraid to attack with Dawson, Ibtisam Sheikh and Wahab Riaz on the receiving end as Islamabad put up their highest PSL score ever.
Samit Patel becoming the perfect replacement
Samit Patel makes TRIPLE breakthrough... Smith and Fletcher follow Kamran Akmal to the dugout!
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 9, 2018
PZ 54/3 in 8 overs
129 needed off 72balls.#SherKiDhaar at Dubai.#DilSeJaanLagaDe#IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/nBLnFAW4A7
The 33-year-old all-rounder is proving to be a successful replacement for Islamabad United.
Replacing Sri Lanka all-rounder Asela Gunaratne, the former England international was effective with the ball. Having trapped Kamran Akmal LBW, Patel’s spin deceived Peshawar batsmen with Andre Fletcher and Dwayne Smith both dismissed in consecutive balls as Islamabad United took charge.
He eventually finished with figures of 4-34 and did his fielding part by catching Umaid Asif in the final over.
Islamabad United making a late charge
After two straight losses, Islamabad United are beginning to find the form that won them the title back in 2016.
This is their fifth win and a result that puts them to the top of the standings with two groups games to go.
Head coach Dean Jones has reiterated it’s not how you start the tournament, it’s how you finish it and Islamabad are showing signs that they’re finding their form at just the right time.
