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Haddin, Misbah knocks seal semi-final berth for Islamabad United

by Manuj Sharma Wednesday 17 February 2016

Brad Haddin scored 42-ball 54 for Islamabad United.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Islamabad United 151-5 (Haddin 54) beat
Lahore Qalandars 150-5 (Akmal 72no) by five wickets
20th match, Pakistan Super League, Dubai
Scorecard

Brad Haddin and Misbah-ul-Haq played fluent knocks following a three-wicket haul from Mohammad Irfan as Islamabad United reached the semi-finals of the Pakistan Super League after defeating Lahore Qalandars by five wickets in game 20 in Dubai.

Islamabad United won the toss and elected to bowl first. Irfan (3-22) and Rumman Raees (1-31) struck thrice in the first three overs to dismiss Azhar Ali (1), Cameron Delport (1) and Mohammad Rizwan (0).

Umar Akmal (72 not out) and Sohaib Maqsood (57) rescued the innings with a 97-run stand which came in 80 deliveries.

Maqsood brought up his half-century with a six off 41 deliveries but in the same over from Irfan, he perished holing out to deep midwicket.

Akmal made the death overs count as he smashed Raees for a six and a four in the 18th over to bring his fifty.

With 30 runs coming in the final two overs, Lahore Qalandars reached 150 for five in the 20 overs.

Zia-ul-Haq (2-38) troubled Dwayne Smith (11) and Sharjeel Khan (5) with early movement and eventually had them both dismissed in his first two overs but Haddin (54) scored a six and a couple of boundaries to push the score to 48 for two in the powerplay.

At the halfway stage, Haddin had already struck five boundaries and two sixes with Islamabad United needing 68 from the final 10 overs.

Haddin added 69 runs for the third wicket with Khalid Latif (25) but Ali fielded brilliantly at cover to effect a run out dismissing Latif.

Misbah (38 not out) announced his arrival with a hatrick of boundaries in the 15th over from Haq but the very next delivery another misunderstanding led to the dismissal of Haddin.

With 32 needed off the final 30 deliveries, even though Islamabad United lost Asif Ali (3), Misbah along with Azhar Mahmood (12 not out) ensured they reached the target in 19 overs.

With six defeats from the eight games, Lahore Qalandars have been eliminated from the tournament while the remaining four teams make it to the playoffs.