Islamabad United pull off narrow win over Peshawar Zalmi

Islamabad United captain Mohammad Sami celebrates after taking a wicket against Peshawar Zalmi on Friday night.-M Sajjad

Greenhorn Muhammad Musa kept it together under pressure, while captain Mohammad Sami took a hat-trick to help defending champions Islamabad United pull off a narrow 12-run win over Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Friday night.
Musa, the 18-year-old pacer, snapped up three wickets, including that of opposition captain Darren Sammy, after bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf had halted dangerman Kieron Pollard's charge.
Peshawar Zalmi had slumped to 65 for five after 13 overs in pursuit of 158 but both the West Indians Pollard and Sammy joined forces to give a fine riposte.
Pollard set it rolling by smoking two successive sixes off left-arm spinner Samit Patel, the second of which he lodged into the Sharjah Cricket Stadium hoarding.
He then wrapped up the over with a boundary that sailed through between the two fielders.
Until then, United has held sway by checking Zalmi with regular wickets.
After Dawid Malan and opener Imam-ul-Haa had departed within three balls of each other, Zalmi were down to 26 for three.
Umar Amin and Liam Dawson had stemmed the rut briefly with a 32-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Pollard races to 51 from just 22 deliveries where he clubbed five sixes and three boundaries.
But in trying to up the ante, Pollard chased at a wide one from Faheem Ashraf only to hole out to substitute fielder Philip Salt near the ropes.
And Salt was showed he was worth his salt by keeping his nerves to hold on to a brilliant catch to see the back of Sammy.
Captain Mohammad Sami then came and wiped off the tail with a hat-trick.
United notched their second win, while Zalmi's run of two successive victories came to a halt.
Earlier, Islamabad United managed to muster 158 for nine in their 20 overs after Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy put them in.
Veteran England batsman Ian Bell turned back the years with a defiant half-century after the defending champions had found themselves in trouble at three down for 49.
Small but crucial partnerships took them to that total, a total their bowlers could fight with.
Coming at one down, Bell played himself in before stitching stands with Cameron Delport, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan and then Mohammad Sami.
Bell added 56 runs for the fourth wicket with Delport after which there were tiny partnerships.
Zalmi's young pacers Sameen Gul and Hasan Ali kept plugging away with the duo returning with five wickets.
The 20-year-old Gul picked up three for 29, while Hasan Ali took two for 29.
Hasan swelled his rally at the top of the wicket takers list with 11 scalps.
Saturday's double-header sees the Qalandars go up against Quetta Gladiators, while Islamabad United take on the Karachi Kings.
Brief scores:
Islamabad United: 158-9 in 20 overs (Ian Bell 54, Cameron Delport 29, Luke Ronchi 21, Sahibzada Farhan 15, Sameen Gul 3-29, Hasan Ali 2-29) beat Peshawar Zalmi: 146 all out in 19.4 overs Kieron Pollard 51, Wahab Riaz 20, Liam Dawson 21, Imam-ul-Haq 18, Mohammad Sami 3-22, Muhammad Musa 3-25, Faheem Ashraf 2-32) by 12 runs.
Man of the Match: Mohammad Sami (Islamabad United)
james@khaleejtimes.com