If there is to be made a case for a comeback in the Pakistan Super League, the comeback by Islamabad united in game 20 of the PSL 2021 will always be among the top contender for number one. It wasn’t just one comeback in one inning, but a huge comeback in both the innings of the game and from a position, which wasn’t suitable for a comeback at all.
The Lahore Qalandars deserve some mention for making a mess of all the opportunities they got in the game to lose it in the end by 28 runs. Chasing a modest target of 153 on a Shiekh Zayed wicket that didn’t support swing as much as in the last few games, the Qalandars had a desirable start with a 55 run partnership for the opening wicket. Both Fkahar Zaman and skipper Sohail Akhtar looked in great touch before the latter was removed by Fawad Ahmed on the last ball of the first powerplay. Youngster Zeeshan Ashraf was run out very soon too.
However, Mohammad Hafeez joined Zaman and the Qalandars were cruising to victory under their partnership at 86-2 in 10 overs. But as they say, it’s not over till it’s over, young fast bowler Muhammad Musa made sure that the saying was held true to its course as he removed both Hafeez and Zaman in his two overs. In between them he also sent back Ben Dunk to the pavilion for a duck. Qalandars were suddenly 93-5 and in a spot of bother with their saviours from the last two games, Tim David and Rashid Khan at the crease.
Shadab Khan, the United skipper had other ideas in mind as he removed both David and Rashid in the same over to break any hopes that might have been building in the Qalandars dugout. From there on, it was a matter of formality as Sheen Afridi and James Faulkner were dismissed by Ahmed in the 15th over itself. The grandeur of the comeback of United can be gauged from the fact that they took seven wickets in a span of just 14 runs and 30 balls. In the end, Haris Rauf entertained the audiences with some high flying shots but it was never going to be enough as one shot too many and a brilliant catch at the long leg boundary by Iftikhar meant that the Qalandars innings came to an end at 124.
The loss did not settle well with the Qalandars skipper Sohail. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, he said, “Our middle-order didn't take responsibility. We need to work on our death bowling. We gave away 10-15 runs more. We got a good opening partnership but lost our way in the middle.”
Earlier in the evening, it was the story of the vintage Asif Ali doing what he has been known for, taking the United out of precarious situations. The middle-order batsman, who had been going through a rough patch recently, making only 99 runs in his last nine innings at a lowly average of 11.00 and losing his place in the XI in the national side, was pushed to number seven in the United lineup too. But today was the day of his redemption.
At 20/5 at the end of the powerplay, Islamabad were looking down at another humbling by Lahore in the PSL but for Asif and Iftikhar’s partnership. The two veterans of the game got together and added a record 123 runs for the sixth wicket, the highest in PSL’s six years history. Asif in particular was ruthless from the very beginning, even as Iftikhar took his time to settle down.
The 29-year-old completed his fifty in just 28 balls and went on to make 74, his highest score in PSL off just 43 balls at a strike rate of 174. He hit six fours and five sixes. As Asif didn’t seem like getting out to any bowler, he was hit wicket as his pads flaked the stumps while he was turning after trying to pull a ball from deep in his crease. The Faisalabad born was also adjudged Man of the match for his herculean effort.
The 30-year-old partner of his missed out on his fifty, getting out for 49 in an attempt to hit some more boundaries. Faulkner was the pick of the bowlers for Lahore as he removed three players in the powerplay.
With this win, United have also got to the top of the table now replacing Qalandars, although both the teams have the same points. Shadab, who was criticised for not fielding first after winning the toss said, “A decision is a final decision and if we had lost the game, I wouldn't have blamed the toss.” “But it was great to come back from difficult situations and win this match,” he added in the post-match presentation ceremony.
While Lahore would come back on Tuesday to play against Quetta Gladiators, sitting at the bottom of the PSL points table, Islamabad would be in action tomorrow against last year’s champions Karachi Kings.