Mark-x Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 Defending champions Islamabad United defeat Lahore Qalandars by five wickets to win the opening fixture of the fourth edition of Pakistan Super League at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The defending champions won the toss and chose to bowl. Qalandars got off to a brilliant start as openers Fakhar Zaman and Sohail Akhtar put on a 97-run opening partnership. The stand came to an end when the latter was dismissed for 37 off 30 deliveries with four boundaries and a six to his. Zaman and South African veteran AB de Villiers took the total to 129 with their 32-run stand before the opening batsman fell after scoring 65 off 44 balls which included six fours and three maximums. After De Villiers departed after scored a 17-ball 24, there was little to no resistance shown by the middle order and the side managed 171-8 in their 20 overs. United started the run chase of 172 in a positive manner as Luke Ronchi and Rizwan Hussain scored a 45-run opening stand. Rahat Ali managed to bag three quick wickets which put the game back in Qalandars’ favour. Cameron Delport and Hussain Talat recovered the side with their 55-run stand on the fourth wicket. After Hussain Talat and Cameron Delport’s dismissal, it was Faheem Ashraf and Asif Ali who came to the side’s rescue with their unbeaten 59-run partnership and took the side to victory. Islamabad United top the standings with two points.
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