Twitter Reactions: Liam Dawson's final over cameo knocks Peshawar Zalmi out of PSL 2022

United won the all-important clash by five wickets.

By Karthik Nair

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Islamabad United
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Islamabad United. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)

Islamabad United got the better of  Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets in the Eliminator one of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 on February 24 to set up a virtual semifinal clash against the Lahore Qalandars in the Eliminator two on February 25 where the winner will meet the defending champions Multan Sultans on the 27th.

Peshawar Zalmi on the other hand missed the services of their two key players- Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting and leggie Usman Qadir who were ruled out after being tested positive for  COVID-19 a couple of days ahead of the PSL 2022 playoffs. The loss has knocked the last edition’s finalists out of the competition and they will be finishing fourth this time around.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Peshawar Zalmi lost the wickets of opener Mohammad Haris and Yasir Khan but wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal played a splendid knock and received good support from his former Pakistani teammate as well as veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Akmal scored 58 runs off 39 deliveries and was the team’s top scorer while Malik scored 55 runs off 43 balls. An important 15-ball knock of 28 from middle-order batter Hussain Talat towards the backend of the innings propelled Peshwar Zalmi to a competitive total of 169/5 from their 20 overs.

Liam Dawson stars for Islamabad United in the last over

In reply, explosive opener Alex Hales who made a comeback into the side meant business right away as he took the bowlers to the cleaners at regular intervals even though he ran out of partners at the other end just when the scoreboard kept ticking. He received some support from his captain Shadab Khan who scored 22 off 17 balls. At one point, it seemed as if Hales would single-handedly get the job done for his side but, he was outfoxed by Salman Irshan in the 14th over.

After losing the hard-hitting Asif Ali cheaply and a well-set Azam Khan for 28, the Zalmi were right back in the contest before middle-order batter Faheem Ashraf played a vital knock. However, it was Liam Dawson who had saved his best for the last. He came out to bat in the final over when Benny Howell had removed Azam. With 10 to get off five deliveries, Dawson completed the formalities with a six and a four of the next two balls as Islamabad got home with three balls to spare.

Here’s how Twitter reacted after Islamabad United pulled off an unlikely win

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PSL 2024Peshawar ZalmiIslamabad United