Hasan bowls Peshawar to victory over Sultans
sharjah — Another four-wicket haul by Hasan Ali helped Peshawar Zalmi register a five-wicket victory over Multan Sultans in the fourth HBL Pakistan Super League at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 146, Peshawar suffered an early jolt in the form of Kamran Akmal’s dismissal. Kamran has failed to replicate his last season’s performance.
After losing Kamran (4) in the very first over, Imam-ul-Haq and Dawid Malan joined together and put on 68 runs for the second wicket. Malan looked in great touch but a bowling change worked for Multan as Daniel Christian deceived the Englishman with a slower one.
Malan departed after making 38 off 35 deliveries. Liam Dawson replaced Malan and showed his intent with a towering six against Junaid Khan’s bowling. Dawson, who was playing freely, perished after making 18 runs as he tried to lift Christian over third man.
Imam produced another stellar performance by hitting 52 off 44 balls to put his team on path to victory. The West Indian giant Kieron Pollard survived a caught and bowled chance off Junaid. The fast bowler was caught off guard as the ball hurried on him and in the process he hurt his bowling shoulder.
Pollard after surviving some anxious moments hit four consecutive sixes in the 18th over bowled by Mohammad Irfan. The tallest bowler in the business conceded 24 runs which virtually killed any hopes of Multan’s comeback.
Pollard threw away his wicket in the 19th over as he tried to hit six off Junaid. Pollard plundered 25 off 10 deliveries to take Peshawar to closer to victory.
Earlier Hasan’s brilliant performance contained Multan Sultans to 145. James Vince hit 53 laced with three sixes and remained the top scorer. Multan who reached 200 mark against Lahore Qalandars on Friday (though they lost the match) but failed to fire on Sunday.
Umar Siddiq (20) and captain Shoaib Malik (22) were the other contributors. Addressing the postmatch press conference Dawson said: “Hasan is a world class bowler and he has made a habit of getting four wicket in a match in this PSL. I hope he carries on the form in the remaining tournament.” Pollard was another performer on Sunday night as he blasted four consecutive sixes to the one of the most difficult bowler in the business.
“He is a freak and that is why he has played so many T20 matches around the world. He is a matchwinner and on his day he can destroy any bowler.”
Kamran is proving a weak link in this PSL for Peshawar Zalmi.
“He is a top performer for Peshawar Zalmi in the previous three
PSL events. No doubt he is going through bad patch but you never know he might come up with a top performance in the next match.”
While answering a question about the PSL, Dawson said: “The PSL shows Pakistan cricket is in a very good health. I am enjoying my stay with Peshawar Zalmi and it is proving a good learning process for me in the subcontinent conditions.”