Islamabad United handed Peshawar Zalmi a five-wicket defeat in a nail-biting last-ball thriller in the Pakistan Super League in Sharjah on Saturday.
Set a 137-run target, a shaky start saw United at 15 for the loss of two wickets by the third over.
Opener Dwayne Smith carried the bat for United, remaining unbeaten on 72 (59 balls).
With wickets falling at regular intervals, Smith was joined by Shane Watson and the duo created a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
However, drama unfolded with United six runs away from victory with an over to go. With five runs scored and the match tied, Watson was run out on 30.
New man Amad Butt scored the winning run off the last ball after managing to get his bat to an attempted yorker gone wrong by Junaid Khan.
There were a few good starts in the Islamabad United’s inning but no one able to bank on it to make a big total.
Earlier, Zalmi’s Eoin Morgan made 28 off 28 balls before falling prey to Shadab Khan. Wahab Riaz made a quick fire 23, which included scoring 21 runs in one over of Watson, but he was soon clean bowled by Mohamed Sami.
Sami and Rumman Raees were the pick of bowlers for United. Sami took three wickets at an economy of 6.5 in four overs, while Raees took two scalps at an economy of 4.75 in his allotted quota.
Islamabad’s Amad Butt (left) scored the winning run off the last ball.
