Twitter Reactions: Asif Ali and Islamabad United bowlers dethrone Lahore Qalandars as toppers

The Qalandars, in their run-chase, collapsed from 55 for no loss to 100 for nine in a space of 53 balls.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Asif Ali
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Asif Ali. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Islamabad United started the second leg of PSL 2021 with a defeat against Lahore Qalandars. However, against the same opponent, Shadab Khan, and Co were able to make amends on Sunday, June 13, as they won by 28 runs. The win also took them to the top of the points table. Albeit both Lahore and Islamabad have five wins from seven games, the latter is ahead due to a superior net run rate.

Asif Ali counterpunches  

The decision to bat first after winning the toss turned out to be a disaster to start with. In their first seven overs, the United managed 24 runs and lost five wickets. None of their top five batters- Usman Khawaja, Colin Munro, Rohail Nazir, Hussain Talat, and Shadab Khan- could get into double digits. Pacer James Faulkner was the chief destroyer as he picked up three of those five wickets.

Thereafter, Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed stitched together the highest ever sixth-wicket partnership of 123 runs in PSL history. Even as Iftikhar was sedate, Asif went for the big shots and notched a fifty off 28 balls. He got out hit-wicket after a 43-ball 75 with six fours and five sixes. Ahmed scored 49 off 37 and lent Ali support. For Lahore, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf picked up two wickets each.

Qalandars collapse

Chasing 153, the Qalandars got off to an excellent start courtesy of a 55-run stand for the opening wicket in six overs between Sohail Akhtar and Fakhar Zaman. When Akhtar got out to Fawad Ahmed for a 19-ball 34, the Qalandars needed 98 at a required rate of seven. However, from there on, the Qalandars’ batting suffered a massive collapse and they were reduced to 100 for nine in 15 overs.

Muhammad Musa, Shadab, and Fawad helped the United make a stupendous comeback. When Musa got rid of Fakhar, who was batting on 44 off 37, the United became the firm favourites to win. In fact, barring, Zaman and Akhtar, none of the Lahore batters could go beyond the single-digit mark. Haris Rauf smashed Mohammad Wasim for two sixes, but the Qalandars were bowled out for 124.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Islamabad United’s win:   

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PSL 2024Lahore QalandarsIslamabad United