Ashraf, Delport root out Lahore to propel Islamabad to playoffs

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Shaheen Afridi kicked-off the Pakistan leg of the tournament with a stunning wicket of United opener Ronchi. Photo: PSL Twitter
 

KARACHI: Islamabad United’s Cameron Delport’s unbeaten quick-fire century and Faheem Ashraf's six-wicket haul scripted a massive 49 runs win against for the defending champions against Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium in Karachi.

The defending champions posted record 238 runs total courtesy Delport’s 117 runs off 60 balls with 13 boundaries and six sixes. His partner in crime, Asif Ali equaled Peshawar Zalmi’s Kamran Akmal’s record of the fastest half-century on 17 balls.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf with six-wicket haul off 18 runs halted Qalandars’ momentum at important intervals of the game. He is now the highest wicket-taker of the season — replacing Peshawar Zalmi's Hasan Ali.

Chadwick Walton with his 48 off 30 assisted Delport during the innings. 

Qalandars’ speedster Shaheen Shan Afridi kicked-off Pakistan Super League’s Pakistan leg with a cracking wicket of United opener Luke Ronchi, announcing himself in the city of lights.

Sandeep Lamichhane was the next one to give a super breakthrough with the wicket of Philip Salt as the batsman gave the wicket in his attempt to hit over the covers. The wicket came after a run fest by Delport in the second over of the game against Rahat Ali.

But then Delport with his fine batting display left no option for the bowlers than to see boundaries being poured out all over the stadium.

Afridi, the lead pace attacker got hit for 62 runs with one wicket in his four-over quota, while leg spinner Lamichhane bagged 46 runs.

David Wiese took one wicket off 44 balls.

United scored 70 runs in the batting power play — it's the third highest powerplay score in the history of the PSL.

The Qalandars, except Sohail Akhtar with his 75 off 34, failed again in the batting department in a stadium being criticized for having too short boundaries. 

Cameron Delport scored a century to help United to a formidable total. Photo: PSL Twitter.

Rumman Raees and Shadab Khan took one-wicket each in the match.

With this win, United cemented a place in the playoffs along with Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

List of records broken:

1) Highest PSL score of all time (238)

2) Most PSL sixes (16) in an innings

3) Joint-fastest PSL half-century (Asif Ali, 17 balls)

4) Highest ever total in Karachi

5) Most expensive spell in PSL (Shaheen Afridi, 62 runs)

6) Least number of twos in a completed PSL inning (one in the first innings)

7) Fastest PSL hundred (Cameron Delport, 49 balls)


For Lahore Qalandars, things are not simple anymore. They have now only 6 points from their three victories so far in the tournament, their qualification to the playoffs now depend on whether Karachi Kings are defeated in their next games and on the NRR comparison.

To put things simpler: Lahore will qualify if Karachi loses both matches and Lahore wins with a handsome margin against Multan Sultans. Qalanadars can manage to go througrun ratet runrate.