Twitter Reactions: Peshawar Zalmi trump Islamabad United in close contest to set up Eliminator clash

Peshawar Zalmi have cemented their berth in the play-offs for the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) following a win against Islamabad United by 13 runs in Match 29, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 12. 

Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan decided to bowl first after winning the toss and it Fazalhaq Farooqi who drew first blood as he got the vital scalp of Saim Ayub on the third ball of the contest. However, a 115-run partnership between Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Mohammad Haris got the side back into the contest.

Rajapaksa and Haris scored of 79 and 41 runs respectively before Shadab sent both of them packing. Peshawar concluded their innings with a competitive total of 179/8 in 20 overs. Meanwhile, Hasan Ali picked up a three-wicket haul, Shadab got two whereas Farooqi, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Wasim got one wicket each. 

Islamabad United fight in vain during chase

Tom Kohler-Cadmore led Peshawar Zalmi in the absence of Babar Azam in their final league outing. In response to the total, Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal gave Zalmi a terrific start with the ball as they got the top order in under 35 runs of the chase.

However, keeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz stitched an important 33-run partnership with Colin Munro and raised another 35-run partnership with Shadab to help the side get ahead in the contest. That is when James Neesham and Sufiyan Muqeem struck and shifted the pressure on the rival team. 

Faheem Ashraf slammed four maximums and two boundaries to score 38 runs in mere 13 balls to revive the chase. Aided by Mohammad Wasim, the duo stitched a late 55-run stand off just 24 balls to get closer to the total.

However, with the run rate increasing every ball, Islamabad succumbed under pressure and lost by 13 runs. With this, Zalmi cemented their place in the play-offs of the top-tier league and will play the same side in the Eliminator tie on Thursday, March 16. 

Here is how Twitter reacted-