Karachi (PCB Report)::
Islamabad United brushed aside defending champions Lahore Qalandars by nine wickets in Match 16 of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Chasing a meagre 101, Islamabad got home with 58 balls to spare and nine wickets remaining – the second largest win in terms of balls remaining and fourth largest in HBL PSL history.
The result lifted Shadab Khan's side to second in the standings with seven points from five matches and a net run-rate in excess of two, while the reigning champions slipped further down after a tough outing in which they were bundled out for 100 in 18.3 overs and then offered little resistance with the ball.
Devon Conway anchored the chase with an unbeaten 59 off 35 deliveries hitting seven fours and three sixes, while Mohammad Faiq made 34 not out from 19 balls aided by six fours including the winning boundary as the pair shared an unbroken 93-run stand off just 49 deliveries to seal the win in the 11th over.
In pursuit of 101, Islamabad got off to a brisk start before Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-0-22-1) provided Lahore a much-needed breakthrough in the third over, removing the in-form Sameer Minhas for five with a full delivery outside off that was sliced to Ubaid Shah at deep third.
Conway, however, took charge from the other end, flicking Shaheen twice over the leg-side as Islamabad raced to 51 in the powerplay.
The left-hander brought up his 56th T20 half-century in style off Sikandar Raza in the 10th over with a slog-swept six over midwicket, before leveling the scores with a boundary through the covers.
Faiq, equally fluent at the other end, ended the contest in the very next over, whipping Ryan Burl flat through the deep midwicket region.
Earlier, having been put in to bat, Lahore's innings derailed almost from the very first over. Imad Wasim (4-0-13-2) struck on the second ball of the match, removing Mohammad Naeem for a golden duck caught by Sameer Minhas.
Haseebullah offered brief resistance with 19 from 22 balls hitting two fours, but Imad returned to dismiss Abdullah Shafique for 10 in the fifth over. Skipper Shadab Khan (4-0-18-2) then picked up Rubin Hermann for four to reduce the reigning champions to 41 for four inside nine overs.
Sikandar Raza then chipped in 25 from 19 balls including three boundaries and attempted to rebuild alongside Asif Ali (15, 12b, 1x4, 1x6), but their stand was broken by Shadab in the 13th over before player of the match Chris Green (4-0-19-3) returned to remove Ryan Burl caught and bowled in the 14th over to leave Lahore reeling at 76 for six.
Shaheen scored 9 off 19 balls, while the lower order's resistance was finally ended by Richard Gleeson (3-0-13-2), who picked up Haris Rauf and Ubaid Shah in the 18th over. Faheem Ashraf then removed Shaheen to wrap up the innings for the lowest HBL PSL team total recorded at the National Bank Stadium as Lahore lost their last six wickets for 28 runs.
Scores in brief:
Lahore Qalandars 100 all out, 18.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 25, Haseebullah 19; Chris Green 3-19, Imad Wasim 2-13, Richard Gleeson 2-13, Shadab Khan 2-18)
Islamabad United 104-1, 10.2 overs (Devon Conway 59 not out, Mohammad Faiq 34 not out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-22)
Player of the match: Chris Green (Islamabad United)
