Sameer Minhas stars as Islamabad rout Rawalpindiz in twin city derby

Another game, another defeat for HBL PSL debutants Rawalpindiz.

This time it was their twin-city rivals Islamabad United who left them with plenty to ponder after sealing a clinical seven-wicket victory at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday night.

The debutant franchises are still searching for their footing, with both Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz ending up on the losing side in each of their first three outings.

In the 12th match of PSL 11, the Pindi side produced a meek display against their rivals as the Shadab Khan-led side comfortably chased down the 157-run target in just 14.2 overs thanks to blazing 70 off 36 balls from opener Sameer Minhas.

After a steady first over, Sameer adopted an aggressive gear from the second over, hitting two boundaries and a maximum in the next over. He continued his lethal batting style by smashing four fours in the over of Jalat Khan, helping United post 58 in five overs.

However, his partner Devon Conway didn’t find his rhythm and was dismissed for six in the last over of the powerplay, while Sameer brought up his half-century off 25 balls in the seventh over. After hitting two sixes in successive overs, he was shown the door by Jalat Khan on the first delivery of the tenth over with United needing 65 to win.

After Sameer, Mohammad Faiq, who scored 19, took charge, hitting three fours before spinner Rishad Hossain removed him in the 12th over.

Meanwhile, a 45-run unbeaten partnership between Mark Chapman, who scored 24 from just seven balls, and Haider Ali, who ended on 26 not out from 16 balls, helped United get over the line in 14.2 overs.

For the Pindiz, Mohammad Amir was the standout bowler with figures of one for 18 in three overs, while Jalat and Rishad picked up a wicket each but conceded more than 12 an over.

Pindiz’s inning

After being put into bat by United, the Rawalpindiz posted 156 for six in 20 overs as Kamran Ghulam’s half-century and a fiery 44-run cameo from Dian Forrester lifted them to a modest total following a terrible start.

United pacer Richard Gleeson struck early, dismissing both openers Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan inside the first four overs with just 15 runs on the board.

Ghulam, batting at No.3, then led the recovery by stitching together a 51-run partnership for the third wicket with Daryl Mitchell, who contributed 19 off 15 deliveries.

The right-hander continued to anchor the innings after Mitchell’s dismissal and brought up his third PSL half-century off 37 balls by dispatching United captain Shadab Khan for a six on the final delivery of the 11th over.

However, he could not convert it into a bigger score as Faheem Ashraf had him caught behind.

Following Ghulam’s departure, the Pindiz kept losing wickets at regular intervals, though Forrester’s explosive 44 off 19 balls, featuring four sixes and two fours, pushed them past the 150-run mark.

The pace trio of Salman Irshad, Gleeson and Faheem shared two wickets each, while experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim chipped in with one.