United vs Zalmi, Eliminator 2 at Abu Dhabi, PSL, Jun 22 2021 - Match Result

Wells and Hazratullah Zazai's 126-run partnership is PZ's highest for the 2nd wicket in T20s, breaking the record of 122 between Kamran Akmal and Dawid Malan

Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim's 62-run partnership is IU's highest for the 9th wicket in T20s, breaking the record of 38 between Mohammad Sami and Faheem Ashraf

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Zazai, Wells and Irfan set up Peshawar Zalmi's PSL final date with Multan Sultans

United knocked out in the second eliminator after producing PSL's best-ever league stage performance

22-Jun-2021•Danyal Rasool

Match centre Scores : Ranjith P • Comms : Sreshth Shah

Scorecard summary

Islamabad United1 Inn

174/9(20 overs)

45 (16)

2/35 (4)

44 (29)

2/44 (3)

Peshawar Zalmi2 Inn

177/2(16.5 overs)

66 (44)

1/32 (3)

*55 (43)

1/43 (3.5)

"The fans supported us, prayed for us. It was a difficult route we took to the final but it's a great feeling," Wahab says. "My overs were very important and I knew they had batsmen down the order who can take the game away from you. So I was saving myself for the middle overs. We gave away some runs in the last few overs but the way we responded was great to see.

"There is no fear. They are playing very good cricket, so I'll just say the pressure is on them again. Let's see if they can handle it. The way my boys have played, they deserve the day off. They need to relax and prepare for the final."

And that's our cue to take tonight off. Take care of yourselves, and see you on Thursday.

"It was very important to play a big knock in an important match," Zazai says. "If this was an easy pitch to bat on, I'd have finished this game a lot sooner," he smiles. "This is my natural game, there are no dietary secrets. Everyone knows how we eat!"

"In the first overs, I wasn't getting the hits away but I knew the opportunities would come."

Hazratullah Zazai is the player of the match for his 44-ball 66

Well, that was a rout, wasn't it? Doesn't happen often with Islamabad United in pressure games, but Zalmi have quietly done their business in this year's PSL.

Losing captain Shadab Khan: "We didn't get the momentum with the batting in both matches. We didn't do well in pressure situations. Nerves need to be managed. It was tough, and we couldn't utilise. 170 odd after Hasan's innings got us into the match. But small mistakes you can say, if Zazai was caught early then game could've gone another way. We won 8 league matches, but in the two pressure games we couldn't perform how we should've. Sorry to our fans. We'll try to be champs next season."

Akif Zahoor: "Zalmi is a strong batting unit proving themselves for last three games. 230, and 175 chased twice in 2 consecutive days."

tufail: "congrats Zalmi, the final is gonna be lit. "

Aamir: "Fantastic days of cricket. SA beating WI, sensational PSL matches and what has to be more interesting but most disappointing 5 days of cricket in Southampton. Enjoying every bit of it."

ABAE: "Zazai getting a lot of praise but Jono Wells may feel a little hard done by that - he matched Zazai for nearly the whole innings! Can they share the POTM?"

United look a bit shell shocked from this defeat. And Daren Sammy and co in the Zalmi camp have beaming smiles. Wahab looks mightly pleased too. It was a weird first innings for Zalmi, with that Irfan issue and then the Hasan cameo at the back end, but they ensured that did not affect them in the chase.

11.45pm Coming into the playoffs, most people would have put their money on Islamabad United to make the final after their dominating league stage performance, but well, that's why we love cricket so much. What an unpredictable format. Defeat to Multan Sultans, defeat to Peshawar Zalmi, and they are knocked out.

Zalmi, for their part, now need to make it a hat-trick of wins in the PSL final to clinch the 2021 crown. They beat Kings yesterday, they beat United tonight, can they beat Sultans on Thursday?

Fahad: "Wahab : Biryani for the player having highest strike rate. Malik : say no more"

Azweer: "Malikkk.. finishes off in style...!!!"

16.5

Hasan Ali to Malik, FOUR runs

there's the final! Good length angling in, and he pulls this in front of square for four! Islamabad United knocked out after 8 league-stage wins in ten matches

Two nights in a row Malik has ensured Zalmi can rely on him with eyes closed

16.4

Hasan Ali to Malik, FOUR runs

lucky! Full, on off. Wants to slog it over long on, but takes the outside edge over the vacant slip region

Tariq Ilyas: "Malik the champ"

16.3

Hasan Ali to Malik, FOUR runs

good length, outside off. Bends his knees, and slaps a cut to the point boundary to bring the target to single digits

16.2

Hasan Ali to Malik, 2 runs

back of a length, outside off. Drags a pull from way beyond off, but lands safe around deep midwicket

Shadab's 55 runs were his most expensive PSL figures. Not the day for the United captain to produce that, but it happens when batters are determined to take your bowling on

16.1

Hasan Ali to Wells, 1 run

Over16

18 runs

PZ 162/2CRR: 10.12 RRR: 3.25

Shoaib Malik 18 (6b 2x4 1x6)JW Wells 54 (42b 6x4 3x6)

Shadab Khan0/55 (4)

15.6

Shadab to Malik, FOUR runs

bad night for Shadab, to say the least. Length ball on middle, but Malik comes down the ground, mistimes a straight shot, but hits it well enough for the ball to dribble away to the straight boundary. Pierces the long off-long on gap somehow

15.5

Shadab to Malik, SIX runs

He wants to go to the hotel early! It's a legbreak, but Malik doesn't mind playing against the turn. Down on one knee, and slog swept over deep midwicket!

15.4

Shadab to Malik, FOUR runs

required run rate under six as this legbreak is well cut off the back foot past point!

15.3

Shadab to Malik, 2 runs

tossed up, ends up as a dipping full toss. Driven to wide long on, and played so softly that it allows Malik the second run with ease

Atif: "Hasan Ali and Wasim scored 62 in last 5 overs. They gave 60 in their 6 overs. "

15.2

Shadab to Wells, 1 run

googly. Length ball on off, and turning in. Wants to nudge it leg side, and ends up inside edging it to square leg

15.1

Shadab to Malik, 1 run

full on off. Turning away, and gently pushed to wide long off

Shadab to bowl out

Over15

14 runs, 1 wicket

PZ 144/2CRR: 9.60 RRR: 6.20

JW Wells 53 (41b 6x4 3x6)Shoaib Malik 1 (1b)

Mohammad Wasim1/32 (3)

14.6

Mohammad Wasim to Wells, 2 runs

good length, on off. Tapped down the ground to long on, where there's so much time to come back for two

Azweer: "The RRR, Just above run a ball now."

14.5

•

Mohammad Wasim to Wells, no run

fullish, on off. Wants to play a late tap past point. Finds short third man

14.4

Mohammad Wasim to Malik, 1 run

fullish on off. Wants to play it towards the leg side but goes straight past the stumps. Mid on runs across to stop it, and Malik is off the mark

Shoaib Malik, the experienced Shoaib Malik

Jaber: "Zazai vs Dahani, the final."

14.3

Mohammad Wasim to Hazratullah Zazai, OUT

okay the slower ball does get Zazai, but he's had two amazing knocks in the two eliminators. Shortish, and he tries to slog it leg side, but he's bottom-edged it this time. Ball crashes into the stumps and he walks back disappointed, although the dugout is very pleased with his effort

Hazratullah Zazai b Mohammad Wasim 66 (44b 6x4 4x6) SR: 150

14.3

Mohammad Wasim to Hazratullah Zazai, 1 wide

short ball, slower ball, but very wide. Zazai tries to swat it square but misses.

14.2

Mohammad Wasim to Hazratullah Zazai, SIX runs

you miss, I smash says Zazai as the attempted yorker is a full toss, and he swats it away behind square on the leg side. Using his wrists so well

14.1

Mohammad Wasim to Hazratullah Zazai, FOUR runs

that's a way to start the over as he pulls this slow short ball to the leg side boundary. Again muscled