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Islamabad United set 239 runs target for Qalanders in do-or-die contest

KARACHI: Islamabad United has set a mammoth target of 239 runs at the loss of only three wickets on the back of its opener Cameron Delport blistering unbeaten century.

The United amassed the highest score of HBL PSL.

Cameron Delport completed his maiden and PSL’s fastest-ever ton in the 16 over and remained unbeaten at 117.

In the last five overs, Asif Ali (55 off 21) hit PSL’s joint-fastest half century laced with 6 sixes and 3 fours. In the end, United finished with the score of 238-3. Delport finished with an unbeaten 117 off 60 deliveries.

Luke Ronchi and Cameron Delport opened the innings for United, but their partnership lasted the shortest possible time as the precocious Shaheen Shah Afridi struck on the very first ball of the match. He had Ronchi caught in the slips.

Ronchi’s early departure was quite shocking as the pitch was super flat, signified by the trio of boundaries hit in the same over.

Delport was committed to taking full advantage of the track’s offering as he smacked four boundaries in the second over bowled by Rahat Ali.

Ronchi’s early departure was quite shocking as the pitch was super flat, signified by the trio of boundaries hit in the same over.

Delport was committed to taking full advantage of the track’s offering as he smacked four boundaries in the second over bowled by Rahat Ali.

With pacers going for runs, Fakhar Zaman introduced Sandeep Lamichhane into the attack, and the move paid instant dividends. Philip Salt got greedy, took a needless chance and ended planting a catch at mid-on. Chawick Walton walked in to join Delport at the crease.

Full aware of the short boundaries, Delport was literally throwing his bat at everything and was getting rewarded too promptly. After 5 overs, United had amassed a massive 63 runs for the lass of two wickets.

Delport, who was dropped by Sohail Akhtar at the score of 26, completed his 50 in the 7th over off just 23 balls, flicking one past the short fine leg for four. The introduction of Agha Salman and David Wiese curtailed the flow of runs somewhat but United still brought up their 100 in the 10th over, at the end of which they were 103-2 and cruising.

Walton had played under Delport’s shadow for much of their partnership but the Windies batter took centrestage in the 14th over, smacking back-to-back sixes off of Wiese’s deliveries.

Wiese had the last laugh, however, as he cleaned up Walton in the same over, which ended the 118-run third-wicket partnership. With five overs left, United were 158-3, with Delport on 91 and closing on his century.

Lineups

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devcich, Haris Sohail, Riki Wessels (wk), Sohail Akhtar, David Wiese, Agha Salman, Rahat Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sandeep Lamichhane, Haris Rauf

Islamabad United: Luke Ronchi, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Chadwick Walton, Asif Ali, Mohammad Sami, Rumman Raees, Hussain Talat, Cameron Delport, Phil Salt, Muhammad Musa.

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