Kamran, Imam sizzle as Peshawar swagger into HBL PSL final

KARACHI: Just hours before Peshawar Zalmi’s Eliminator against Islamabad United, I had a meeting with the team’s owner Javed Afridi. In the chit-chat, we talked about various issues and among them was the form of his most destructive batsman – Kamran Akmal.

My view was that Kamran could single-handedly carry Peshawar in the HBL Pakistan Super League final. Javed agreed, adding that “he will certainly do that today”.

Hours later, Kamran proved us right as he blew away Islamabad’s potent attack with an authoritative 74 from 43 balls to guide the 2017 champions into the final for the third time with a 48-run triumph against Islamabad.

Kamran, who is still in his prime at the ripe old age of 37, played the lead role in a 135-run partnership with Imam-ul-Haq that came from just 74 balls. The opening blitz enabled Peshawar to post a formidable 214-5 – a total which inched away from Islamabad’s grasp as their wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

Chasing a huge total, Islamabad needed one of their main guys like Luke Ronchi or Cameron Delport to play a big knock. Ronchi, however, continued his lean form as he failed to capitalise on a brisk start that saw him make 17 from 9. Delport fell for 28, leaving Chadwick Walton as the only man to put up some resistance. He made 48 from 29 balls. Faheem Ashraf made a brisk 31 and Hussain Talat chipped in with 19 but neither of those contributions could bring Islamabad even close to Peshawar’s imposing total. Pacer Hasan Ali cemented his place as the season’s leading wicket-taker as he grabbed 3-29 to take his tally to 25 wickets. Chris Jordan, playing his first game of the season, made his presence felt instantly with 3-36.

Earlier, two-time champions Islamabad, who fielded an unchanged side, opted to field first after winning the toss.

Peshawar, who had brought in Chris Jordan and Umar Amin in place of Misbah-ul-Haq and Lian Dawson, were off to a flying start as Kamran and Imam thrilled a packed crowd at the National Stadium with some delightful stroke-making. Kamran, who had returned to form with a scintillating 86 against Karachi Kings here earlier this week, was once again in his element. He played his shots all over the park cutting and driving the pacers and slog-sweeping leggie Shadab Khan almost at will. He hit three sixes and ten fours and in the process inspired his young partner to play an equally important part in laying a strong foundation to Peshawar’s innings. Imam, who is one of the success stories of the current edition of the PSL, played one of the most important knocks of his T20 career as he cracked a 33-ball 58 – his fourth fifty of the season.

At one point in time, Peshawar were well on their way for a much bigger total but both Kamran and Imam fell to the part-time bowling of Cameron Delport in the 13th over.

Imam was the first to fall as he tried to hit across the line only to top-edge it and Luke Ronchi made no mistake. Imam’s 58 included seven fours and two sixes. Three balls later, Kamran was unable to fully connect a slower one as his slog sweep landed in the hands of Shadab Khan at deep midwicket.

Peshawar’s innings slowed a bit following the twin blows especially because the out-of-sorts Sohaib Maqsood was unable to put bat on ball. But after Shadab ended his misery, West Indian master blasters Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard made sure that Peshawar will cross the 200-run mark despite the hiccups. Pollard made an entertaining 37 from 21 balls including four towering sixers. He could have done more but a mix-up resulted in his run-out. Sammy chipped in with another important cameo – a 15-ball 30 punctuated with two fours and an equal number of sixes. Peshawar will now meet arch-rivals Quetta Gladiators in Sunday’s mouth-watering final.