Gurbaz fireworks, fiery Hasan see Islamabad United outclass Peshawar Zalmi

Rahmanullah Gurbaz performed the song. The Afghanistan opener appeared to be having fun returning to the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) after serving his country.

At the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday, the ferocious right-hander helped Islamabad United recover from their loss to Multan Sultans by ripping through the Peshawar Zalmi spinners for 62 runs off only 31 balls.

Although Hasan Ali’s blistering speed undid Zalmi’s strong start, United raced down the 157-run goal in less than 15 overs.

Before hitting Wahab Riaz for an equal number of sixes over the leg-side boundary, Gurbaz started out by hitting two boundaries off bowler Arshad Khan.

His partner Colin Munro also got going by hitting a six over midwicket off Arshad, but he was dismissed by a straight, quick right-arm delivery.

The expulsion of Gurbaz’s partner had little effect on him as he welcomed Jimmy Neesham with another massive six, cleaning the long-on boundary before dragging the New Zealander for another.

Before hitting a half-tracker for another, Rassie van der Dussen joined the party with a reverse sweep and a slog for two fours off leg-spinner Usman Qadir.

By the end of the powerplay, United had an 80-1 score as Gurbaz sent Wahab with disdain through the covers for another boundary.

The following over saw Van van Dussen sweep Usman for another four, Gurbaz take on chinaman bowler Sufiyan Muqeem for two more boundaries, and Usman eventually find Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the deep.

Following Gurbaz’s dismissal, Arshad damaged the stumps of Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan.

Asif Ali was brought on before Azam Khan, making it clear that United wanted the former to end the match quickly.

Prior to hooking Wahab for another boundary in the thirteenth over, Asif destroyed Usman for sixes over cover and long off.

After scoring 42 off of 29, Van van Dussen was run out in the same over, but Islamabad’s strategy was unaffected when Asif hit Arshad for a flat shot.

Zalmi, who were put in to bat earlier, did get off to a fast start as a result of the power hitting of Mohammad Haris and the finesse of Babar Azam.

By the time the powerplay was finished, the two had increased Zalmi’s score to 69-0. However, United was no longer under any pressure, and Hasan quickly went through Zalmi’s middle line, leaving the team with little time to regroup and settle for a middling result.

In Rumman Raees’ first over, Haris and Babar each managed a boundary. The former then expertly performed a lap shot against Hasan for another four and launched the right-armer across the line for his maiden six.

With a flip of the wrists, Babar welcomed pacer Tom Curran and timed the ball to hit the

After scoring 40 from 21 runs, the right-hander added two more boundaries off Faheem, but Haris then sent Shadab back into the spinner’s hands.

Saim Ayub, who had just struck an explosive half-century against Multan Sultans, was caught off guard by Mubasir Khan’s quicker drop, which castled him.

Next it was Hasan’s turn to shake the stumps as the pacer struck Tom Kohler-Cadmore with a pitch that swung in and sent the bails flying before uprooting Rovman Powell’s middle stump with a pitch that swung in sharply.

But, when Hasan faced Babar, the batsman displayed grace with a distinctive, classic cover drive. However, two balls later, Neesham was caught behind off Hasan, ending his innings before reaching fifty.

With 15 overs remaining, Zalmi stood at 125-5 despite their continued poor scoring rate. Yet after then, the team’s hitters scarcely displayed any urgency.

Towards the tail end of the innings, Babar tended to rotate strikes while his partners had trouble getting on base.

Only Wahab’s backfoot slap against Tom Curran caused the ball to get over the goal line for Zalmi as the team amassed a target that rarely posed a threat to United.