DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – All-rounder Andre Russell grabbed three wickets to help fire Islamabad United into the final of the Pakistan Super League, with a 50-run victory over Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi’s in yesterdayay’s last semi-final.
United posted 176 for three off 20 overs after being sent in at the Dubai International Stadium and then restricted Zalmi to 126 all out of 18 overs, to book their spot in the championship game against Quetta Gladiators tomorrow.
Seamer Russell picked up three for 37 from his four overs, including the wicket of captain Shahid Afridi who smashed a 17-ball 38 with two fours and four sixes.
Left-arm spinner Imran Khalid was the best bowler with four for 20 while opener Kamran Akmal stroked the top score of 45 from 32 deliveries.
Sammy made nine from eight balls with two fours before he was fifth out at 80 for five in the 13th over.
Earlier, opener Sharjeel Khan smashed 117 off 62 deliveries to propel United’s innings.
He put on 108 for the first wicket with Barbados and West Indies right-hander Dwayne Smith who made a painstaking 19 off 37 balls.
On Saturday in contrast, Smith hit an unbeaten 50 from 48 deliveries to help United post a nine-wicket victory over Karachi Kings.
