PSL 2016: Islamabad set Quetta final after 50-run victory over Peshawar

26-year-old scores 117 off 62 balls with the help of 12 fours and eight sixes

Islamabad United hit their prime at the right moment as they beat tournament favourites Peshawar Zalmi by 50 runs in the third play-off of the inaugural HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on late Sunday.

Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq-led Islamabad side will now face Quetta Gladiators in the final of the tournament on Tuesday at the same venue.

Peshawar won the toss and elected to bowl first but a blistering ton by United’s left-hand batsman Sharjeel Khan (117 off 62 balls courtesy 12 boundaries and eight maximums) ruined Shahid Afridi’s plans. Right-hand batsman Khalid Latif was the second best run-scorer for Islamabad with 28 off 21 balls.

Shaun Tait was the only successful bowler with two wickets off two consecutive balls in the fourteenth over of the first innings.

In their chase, Peshawar were let down by their batting. Kamran Akmal (45) and Afridi (32) were the only two batsmen to enter double figures.

Left-arm spinner Imran Khalid was pick of the bowlers for Islamabad with figures of 4-20 in his three overs.

Post-match presentation:

Sharjeel Khan: It was a dream innings. I tried to play everything on merit, and it worked for me. T20 is all about creating a momentum and than carry it on, and that's what I did and thankfully it worked for me.

Shahid Afridi: First of all, I want to congratulate Islamabad United. Sharjeel played an amazing knock, and it was his day. We got amazing response from the fan. We could have utilised first six overs of the innings, and things could have been different. But it was just not our day.

Misbahul Haq: The whole team deserve credit for this performance. We don't fear anything because we have got nothing to lose. We came out of pressure situations early in the tournament, so we are prepared for any situation. Having strike bowlers in a team is a big advantage for us. We will try to play final as another game, and we will try to execute our plans.



PSZ 126-10(18 overs)

OUT! BOWLED! Islamabad wins it comfortably and they are through to the final of the HBL PSL

OUT! One shot too many. Dwayne Smith takes an easy catch on the mid wicket boundary. Afridi departs, and so are the hopes of Peshawar Zalmi

SIX! Another one, this time over covers boundary.

FOUR! Afridi earns another lucky boundary through the third-man boundary.

SIX! Afridi paddle-sweeps one for a maximum over fine-leg boundary.



PSZ 110-8(17 overs)

Six runs and a wicket off the over.

FOUR! Afridi earns a lucky boundary through third-man.



OUT! Curtains for Hassan Ali. Misbah takes an easy catch.



Mohammad Sami.



PSZ 104-7(16 overs)

Three runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Wahab Riaz departs. Russell takes an easy catch at long on.



Mohammad Irfan.



PSZ 101-6(15 overs)

Nine runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! BOWLED! Shahid Yousuf departs after a brilliant yorker.



SIX! Another big one from Shahid Afridi over midwicket boundary for a maximum.



Andre Russell.



PSZ 92-5(14 overs)

10 runs off the over.

SIX! Biggest hit of the night from none other than Shahid Afridi. Huge hit over deep mid-wicket boundary for a massive six.



Mohammad Sami.



PSZ 82-5(13 overs)

Seven runs and two wickets off the over.

OUT! BOWLED! Sammy bowled around his legs. Imran Khalid is on fire, and so is Islamabad.



FOUR! Sammy muscled it over covers fielder for a boundary.



OUT! Brilliant from Imran Khalid. Ghulam takes an easy catch on the long off boundary. A huge wicket for Islamabad.



Imran Khalid



PSZ 75-3(12 overs)

Sever runs off the over.

FOUR! Full toss and Sammy puts it away with ease.



Mohammad Irfan 



PSZ 68-3(11 overs)

Four runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Kamran Akmal departs as Brad Haddin takes a neat catch.



Imran Khalid. 



PSZ 64-2(10 overs)

Four runs off Badree's last over.

Samuel Badree



PSZ 60-2(9 overs)

Nine runs and wicket off the over.

OUT! Hafeez caught by Asif Ali at mid-wicket boundary.



SIX! Kamran hits one over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.



Imran Khalid. 



PSZ 51-1(8 overs)

Seven off the over.

FOUR! Karman pulls one to the square-leg boundary for four runs.



Andre Russell.



PSZ 44-1(7 overs)

10 runs off the over.

SIX! Kamran Akmal hits one down the ground for a maximum.



Samuel Badree.



PSZ 34-1(6 overs)

Five runs off Russell's first over.

Andre Russell



PSZ 29-1(5 overs)

Just five runs off Sami's first over.

FOUR! Leg byes.



Mohammad Sami.



PSZ 24-1(4 overs)

Six runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Badree gets one for Islamabad. Malan caught behind for 7 off 12 balls.



FOUR! Malan lobs one over the covers fielder for a boundary.



Samuel Badree.



PSZ 18-0(3 overs)

14 runs off the over.

FOURx2! Kamran Akmal is turning it on for Peshawar.



FOUR! Kamran hits a full-toss to the covers boundary.

Mohammad Irfan



PSZ 4-0(2 overs)

Maiden over from Samuel Badree.

Samuel Badree.



PSZ 4-0(1 over)

Just four runs off the first over

FOUR! Kamran pulls one to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.



Kamran Akmal and Dawid Malan to start for Peshawar

Mohammad Irfan to start for Islamabad United



ISU 176-2 (20 overs)

FOUR! Khalid Latif hits one straight down the ground for a boundary.



OUT! RUN OUT! Sharjeel Khan walks back after scoring a magnificent 117 off just 62 balls.



Wahab Riaz



ISU 167-2 (19 overs)

11 runs off the over.

FOUR! Another boundary for Sharjeel.



FOUR! Khalid Latif hits one extra cover for a boundary.



Hassan Ali.



ISU 156-2 (18 overs)

Just five runs off the Wahab Riaz over.

Wahab Riaz.



ISU 151-2 (17 overs)

SIX! Full toss, and Sharjeel hits one over long on boundary for a maximum.



Shaun Tait.



ISU 140-2 (16 overs)

10 runs off the over

SIX! What a way to bring up his century. Sharjeel hits maiden PSL ton. What an innings from the left-hander.



Shahid A



ISU 130-2 (15 overs)

10 runs off the over

FOUR! Khalid Latif hits it hard and earns a boundary.

OUT! Khalid Latif departs. OH NO! It's a No-Ball, and its a FREE HIT. 

Hassan Ali.



ISU 120-2 (14 overs)

12 runs and two wickets off the over.

SIX! Sharjeel uper-cuts one over third man fielder for a six.



FOUR! Sharjeel guides one through third man region for a boundary.



OUT! BOWLED! Another one. This time Brad Haddin walks back.



OUT! Finally for Peshawar. Smith misses the straight delivery and its plumb in front.



Shaun Tait



ISU 108-0 (13 overs)

Nine runs off the over

SIX! This is massive from Sharjeel. He hits Pakistan's best fast bowler out of the park over mid on boundary for huge six. Very impressive.



Wahab Riaz



ISU 99-0 (12 overs)

12 runs off Sammy's first over.

SIX! Slow short ball and Sharjeel picked it and pulls it over square leg boundary for half a dozen.



FOUR! This time through extra cover. Sharjeel is having a time of his life.



Darren Sammy



ISU 87-0 (11 overs)

Eight runs off Wahab's first over.

FOUR! Sharjeel cuts one square for a boundary.



Wahab Riaz



ISU 79-0 (10 oves)

13 runs off the over

SIX! Sharjeel is taking Islamabad forward. Absolutely brilliant hitting.



FOUR! Sharjeel sweeps one for a boundary and complete his half-century. Well played young man.



Shahid Afridi



ISU 66-0 (9 overs)

17 runs off the over.

FOUR! Sharjeel is turning it on. Four straight down the ground.

SIX! This time over mid wicket for a huge six.



SIX! Sharjeel comes down the wicket and hits one out of the park through deep midwicket region.



Mohammad Asghar



ISU 49-0 (8 overs)

Nine runs off the over, a good one for Islamabad.

FOUR! Short and Sharjeel cuts its for another boundary.

Seems like Dwayne Smith is being told to do something about his batting. He is trying to change his gears.

Shahid Afridi



ISU 40-0 (7 overs)

Just four runs off Asghar's second over.

Another Dot! Smith is clearly struggling.

Mohammad Asghar



ISU 36-0 (6 overs)

Just two runs off Afridi's first over.

Shahid Afridi to replace Shaun Tait.



ISU 34-0 (5 overs)

Just one runs off Asghar's first over.

Mohammad Asghar replacing Hassan Ali 



ISU 33-0 (4 overs)

Seven runs off Tait second over.

FOUR! Slow ball and Sharjeel picked it early, hits it over mid on fielder for a boundary.



Shaun Tait.



ISU 26-0 (3 overs)

10 runs off the over

FOUR! Wonderful straight drive from the left-hander.

FOUR! Sharjeel Khan pulls one through square leg for a boundary.



Hassan Ali



ISU 16-0 (2 overs)

10 runs off the over

FOUR! Four leg-byes.



FOUR! Sharjeel flick one through square leg for a boundary.



Shaun Tait



ISU 6-0 (1 over)

Six runs off the first over

FOUR! Sharjeel Khan hits one to the mid wicket boundary.



Sharjeel Khan and Dwayne Smith to start for Islamabad United

Young Hassan Ali to start for Peshawar



Toss: Peshawar win the toss and elected to bowl first

Shahid Afridi: We will bowling first. My team is feeling comfortable chasing targets. In this format, once things go wrong for you, its hard to get it back. But we will try to start fresh today as its a new day. Jonny Bairstow is not well, Dawid Malan replace him.

Misbahul Haq: The pitch looks good. Except that there is a dew element comes into the equation, I would want to bat first in every pressure game. The team is performing really well in all departments. We are playing with the same team.