Twitter Reactions: Babar Azam, Salman Irshad end Islamabad United’s campaign

Peshawar Zalmi ended Islamabad United’s campaign with a thrilling 12-run win in the Eliminator 1 of the Pakistan Super League 2023 on Thursday (March 16). Babar Azam smashed 64 off 39 to help the Zalmi post a big total of 183/8 while batting first. Then Salman Irshad and Aamer Jamal shone with a ball with two wickets each to restrict the United on just 171/6. 

Shadab Khan won the toss for the United and elected to field first at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. But his decision backfired as Babar and Saim Ayub put in a quick 60-run stand for the opening wicket. Ayub smashed 23 off 16 before getting caught out on the returning pacer Mohammad Wasim’s delivery. 

But Babar kept the runs flowing and smashed his third consecutive fifty in the tournament. He scored 64 off 39 with the help of ten fours before getting out on Shadab’s delivery in the 13th over. Young wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris kept the scoreboard moving by smashing 34 off just 17 but the Zalmi kept losing wickets from one end.

Islamabad United’s bowlers made a late comeback and contained the Zalmi below 200 total. Shadab took two wickets while Wasim impressed with an economical spell of one for 29. Afghan wicketkeeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz started the United’s innings with a six and four but pace all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed him in the second over to balance the game.

But Alex Hales and Sohaib Maqsood produced a brilliant partnership of 115 runs for the second wicket. Aamer Jamal dismissed both the batter in his back-to-back overs to bring Zalmi back into the game. Maqsood top-scored with 60 off 48 while Hales smashed 57 off just 37.

Salman Irshad dismissed Azam Khan for just two runs in the 16th over and Aamer run out Faheem Ashraf in the same over to put Zalmi in the driving seat. Shadab smashed 26* off 12 but Peshawar Zalmi survived a late comeback from the United and won the game by 12 runs.

Here is how Twitter is reacting to Peshawar Zalmi‘s win over Islamabad United:

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