Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi in Karachi.Islamabad United clinch their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title by beating Peshawar Zalmi by three wickets in a historic final in Karachi on Sunday.All-rounder Chris Jordan finished the innings with the top score of 36 off 26 balls with the help of one four and three sixes.
After deciding to bat first, Zalmi managed to post total of 148-9 in their allotted 20 overs.
.Thousands of spectators endured long queues and navigated stringent security checkpoints hours ahead of a high profile cricket match on Sunday in Karachi, the first time in nine years that it has hosted a game of such stature.
At least 8,000 security personnel that also included armed soldiers guarded the 27,000 capacity National Stadium where Peshawar Zalmi will take on Islamabad United in the third PSL final.
“It's (the PSL final) giving a message to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful country and Pakistan will play role in sports,” said 24-year-old spectator Hamza Yousuf Shah, who was waiting in one of several long queues to get into the stadium.
“Pakistan is full of cricket fans and it's a great thing that cricket is back in Pakistan, hopefully, it will be a success,” said 16-year-old cricket enthusiast Ria Martin.
Love of the game also brought 14-year-old Maaz Ahmed, who uses a wheelchair, to the ground.
Karachi is the winner today when defending champions Peshawar Zalmi took on Islamabad United at the National Stadium in the final of the Pakistan Super League’s third edition.
Today's PSL final is being billed as Karachi’s biggest match of the decade, the last Test and one-day international were played against Sri Lanka in February 2009.
The grand finale began with a glitzy closing ceremony in which performances by Aima Baig, Farhan Saeed, Shehzad Roy, Strings and Ali Zafar enthralled the 30,000 plus crowd Zalmi struggle to reach 148-9
Late-order batsman Wahab Riaz made a 14-ball 28 to take Peshawar Zalmi to a moderate total of 148 for nine against Islamabad United in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) -3 here at the jam-packed National Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, after winning the toss, Peshawar Zalmi made a disastrous start losing their three top order batsmen for just 38.
Then Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson got together to take their team out of trouble and added 52 runs for the fourth wicket stand.
Unfortunately, Jordan made an exit after hitting three sixes and a four in his 36 from 26 balls, the Zalmi’s collapse began and they soon were 121 for nine in the 18th over.
However, it was Wahab who provided some resistance, scoring an unbeaten 28 off 14 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was the most successful bowler for Islamabad United, capturing three wickets for 25 runs, followed by Hussain Talat (2-18) and Samit Patel (2-26).
.07:30 pm
Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat against Islamabad United here at the jam-packed National Stadium on Sunday.
Jean-Paul Duminy is leading Islamabad United in place of Misbah-ul-Haq, who has been ruled out of the game because of an injury.
There is no change in Peshawar Zalmi team where as Islamabad United have brought in Chadwick Walton in place of Alex Hales.
Teams
Peshawar Zalmi XI: Kamran Akmal, Andre Fletcher, Mohammad Hafeez. Saad Nasim, Liam Dawson, Darren Sammy, Chris Jordan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Umaid Wasif, Sameen Gul.
Islamabad United XI: Luke Ronchi, Chadwick Walton, JP Duminy, Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Ammad Butt, Mohammad Sami, Samit Patel.
06:45 pm
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have reached Karachi to watch the final along with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Miftah Ismail, Senator Musadik Malik, Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali.
06:35 pm
Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy came to the stage and said that he was seeing yellow colour everywhere in the stadium which means people of Karachi were supporting Peshawar. He thanked the fans to come to the stadium for supporting them.
Sammy made his entry to the stage saying Assalam-o-Alaikum and concluded his talk with Pakistan Zindabad.
