KARACHI: Islamabad United produced a commanding all-round performance to thrash defending champions Lahore Qalandars by nine wickets in a one-sided Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) clash at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday, registering their third victory of the tournament in emphatic fashion.
Chasing a modest target of 101, United cruised to the finish in just 11 overs, losing only one wicket, courtesy of a superb innings from Devon Conway, whose fluent half-century ensured there were no hurdles in the chase.
Islamabad had a slightly shaky start when opener Sameer Minhas was dismissed for five runs off eight balls, including a boundary, by Shaheen Afridi on the first delivery of the third over. After the early setback, Conway joined Mohammad Faiq in the middle and the duo quickly settled the nerves, stitching together a composed partnership. The pair guided Islamabad past the 50-run mark by the sixth over, batting sensibly while keeping the scoreboard moving with ease.
Both batters displayed excellent game awareness, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. Their confident approach not only established a solid half-century stand but also lifted the morale of the side while putting the Qalandars’ bowling attack under constant pressure.
Conway, in particular, looked in sublime touch and an aggressive mood, striking boundaries at regular intervals. The New Zealand left-hander reached his maiden PSL fifty in style and remained unbeaten on 59 off 35 deliveries, smashing seven fours and three sixes.
Faiq provided solid support at the other end with a brisk 34 from just 19 balls, hammering six fours, as the pair steered Islamabad United to a comfortable and convincing victory. After being put in to bat, Lahore Qalandars were bowled out for 100 in 18.3 overs as Islamabad United’s disciplined and dominant spin attack dismantled their batting lineup.
The Qalandars suffered an immediate blow when Imad Wasim dismissed Mohammad Naeem for a first-ball duck on the second delivery of the opening over, putting the defending champions under pressure right from the start.
Haseebullah Khan and Abdullah Shafique attempted to stabilize the innings with a cautious 26-run partnership. However, Imad struck again to remove Shafique for 10 off 12 deliveries, which included a six, leaving Qalandars at 27-2 in 4.3 overs. Chris Green then tightened the grip on the opposition when he clean bowled Haseebullah for 19 off 22 balls, including two boundaries, on the final delivery of the eighth over.
The pressure continued to mount as Islamabad captain Shadab Khan struck in the very next over, dismissing Rubin Hermann for four off 14 deliveries, leaving Qalandars reeling at 41-4 in 8.1 overs. Asif Ali and Sikandar Raza tried to rebuild the innings with a fighting partnership, guiding the total past the 50-run mark. However, their 31-run stand was eventually broken when Shadab dismissed Asif for 15 off 12 balls, which included a four and a six.
Debutant Ryan Burl failed to make an impact and was caught and bowled by Chris Green for two off six deliveries, reducing Qalandars to 76-6 in 13.3 overs. Sikandar Raza showed some resistance and battled hard with the bat to lift the total towards a respectable score, while Shaheen Afridi also chipped in with useful runs from the other end.
