Delport, Faheem belittle Qalandars, as United enters into final-four

Islamabad United crushed Lahore Qalandars by 49 runs as the Qalandars only managed to score 189-9 in their 20-overs, in the first game of Pakistan Super League (PSL) - Pakistan leg on Saturday at the National Stadium, Karachi.

For United it was a night to remember, after Cameron Delport crushed the Qalandars bowling line hit a blistering century  (117*) to guide his franchise to a record 238 runs. On the other hand Faheem Ashraf splintered the Qalandars batting line picking up six wickets in his spell.

Faheem Ashraf got the first breakthrough for United after Anton Devcich, was easily taken by Chadwick at cover on 18. Qalandars skipper Fakhar Zaman perished at 38 to Faheem Ashraf, thanks to a superb high-pressure catch by Philip Salt.

The leading wicket-taker of @IsbUnited, @iFaheemAshraf does the job again. Qalandars are one down for

51. LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #LQvIU pic.twitter.com/lMW3GTqJQ3

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 9 March 2019

Faheem Ashraf picked his third as Asif Ali caught on naught. Leggie Shadab Khan bowled Riki Wessels on 20. The speedster picked his fourth wicket of Agha Salman, who got caught by Shadab Khan on 3.

Faheem nailed the final nail in Qalandars hope for a win after he claimed his fifth wicket of Sohail Akhtar (75), who was caught by Shadab Khan at long on. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the sixth person to perish after Ashraf bowled him on 1.

The speedster ended with spectacular figures of 6 wickets for 19 runs in 4-overs.

Rumman Raees got the wicket of David Weise, after he was caught on 12 by Muhammad Sami. Haris Rauf was run out on 7 by Mohammad Musa.

Cameron Delport slaughtered the Lahore Qalandars bowling line, reaching his ton off 49 deliveries, the batsman remained not out on 117 featuring 6 maximums and 13 boundaries.

FIRST #HBLPSL 💯 IN PAKISTAN 🇵🇰@Cam12Delport showdown that will go down in the history of #KhelDeewanoKa

LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#LQvIU pic.twitter.com/OiNok4iBm0

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 9 March 2019

Whereas, middle order batsman Asif Ali reached his own milestone, after hitting a 17 ball 50,  the joint-fastest half-century in the league .The batsman remained unbeaten on 55, hitting six maximums and three boundaries, Chadwick Walton too played an important knock of 48 off 30 balls.

💪 @AasifAli2018 brings up his fifty. What an incredible knock this has been.

LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #LQvIU pic.twitter.com/BFRiwPfPes

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 9 March 2019

The United scored 70 runs in their powerplay, which was the third history in the history of PSL. Quetta's 77 the highest in HBL PSL 2016, Lahore and Islamabad tied for the second spot with 75 in PSL 2017 & 2018 respectively.

United’s man in form Luke Ronchi was gone first ball of the inning, after he edged straight into the hand of Haris Sohail off Shaheen Shah Afridi delivery.

Haris Sohail took his second catch of the game, after he caught Philip Salt on 10 off leg spinner Sandeep Lamicahanne delivery in the third over.

After a run fest in the second over of the game, United lose their second wicket. Qalandars bounce back, wicket for @IamSandeep25.

LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #LQvIU pic.twitter.com/geJfKBTPob

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 9 March 2019

David Wesie bowled Chadwick Walton in the 14th over, as Walton depart after a blistering knock of 48 off 30 deliveries, as the 118-runs 3rd wicket stand finally came to an end.

Earlier, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and elected to field first against Islamabad United.

Karachi are you ready to welcome #HBLPSL 2019!

We start with Sher Ki Dhaar vs Dama Dam Mast in #LQvIU#KhelDeewanoKa pic.twitter.com/eKAItjRitT

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 9 March 2019