PES VS ISL ELIMINATOR 2

Right then, that is it from this entertaining Eliminator 2. Now, all eyes will be on the all-important grand finale with the trophy on the line. Islamabad United, the chase masters will lock horns against the most consistent side of this season, Multan Sultans. The final will be played on 18th March, Monday at 9.30 pm IST (4 pm GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Shadab Khan, the victorious skipper of Islamabad United says that they did not play the perfect game but they are still in the final. Credits the team management and the players and says that the belief was always there. Adds that the plan was to take this chase deep and that is what Imad Wasim and Haider Ali did. Mentions that you have to believe in yourself because attitude comes through in these crucial games. Says that he is happy for Haider Ali, they did not pick him in the draft but wanted him in the supplementary and knew that he was going come good for them, Ends by saying that it is important to create a nice atmosphere in the team and they are looking forward to the final.

Imad Wasim is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his amazing all-round performance. He says that this wicket was a bit better than the previous one. Adds that his plan was to keep it simple and bowl slower. Reckons it was a 190-200 wicket and they bowlers did well to pull things back in the death overs. Praises Haider Ali for his exceptional knock and says the wicket was really good and it was all about playing ball by ball. Mentions that the momentum is with them but Multan Sultans are also four-time finalists. Ends by saying that they have one rest day and will get some massages and re-energize for the final.

Babar Azam, the captain of Peshawar Zalmi says that they had a good total and were in a good position after 10 overs in the chase. Adds that the bowling was not up to the mark. Credits Imad Wasim and Haider Ali for their partnership. Mentions that the wicket was good but they did not execute their plans and the bowling let them down. Acknowledges the fans for the way they have supported and says everyone loved it.

Presentation Time..

Haider Ali, one of the architects of this run chase is up for a chat. He says that he is really happy to make it to the final. Adds that they were in a difficult situation at 91/5 but Imad Wasim and he had the belief to do it. Tells that the plan was to not lose any more wickets, the pressure was on him but Wasim managed him well. Mentions that after the 14th-15th over they started to look for the boundaries. Says that he took his time in the middle and it was important to build up a partnership. Credits the team management for backing every player and ends by saying that they will give their all in the final.

Earlier in the game, after being put in to bat first Peshawar Zalmi managed to score 185 after the completion of 20 overs. Saim Ayub was superb with the bat and scored 73 runs while Mohammad Haris played a good hand of 40. Ayub was involved in two half-century-plus partnerships first with Babar Azam at the top and second with Haris. Aamer Jamal was brilliant at the end with the bat and helped his side get past 180. For Islamabad United, Naseem Shah was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped 3 while Shadab Khan took 1 wicket and was involved in all the other dismissals as he picked up four catches as well. While chasing, the top order failed to deliver, but the brilliant 98-run partnership between Imad Wasim and Haider Ali got them through to the final.

Peshawar Zalmi, on the other hand, will be heartbroken as they made the perfect start to defend this total. Saim Ayub got the early breakthrough in the first over. He followed it up with another one while Luke Wood and Mehran Mumtaz got one each to get four wickets inside the Powerplay. They had control of the game and Wood once again came back in the middle overs to remove the dangerous Azam Khan. It was looking like that they would go on and defend this total, but Imad Wasim and Haider Ali had other ideas. Their fielding was a bit off as well and with the death bowling, the less we talk, the better. In the end, they will have to bid adieu to this season from the Eliminator.

Islamabad United got off to the worst possible start as they lost Alex Hales in the very first over. Agha Salman and the skipper Shadab Khan followed suit which put them on the back foot. Martin Guptill was looking good and played a few lusty blows but he too had to walk back on the last ball of the Powerplay. Imad Wasim and Azam Khan steadied the ship for a bit but the latter lost his wicket as they were reduced to 91/5. However, then came the match-winning partnership between Imad Wasim and Haider Ali. Wasim anchored the innings excellently and kept the scoreboard ticking while Ali finally came good for his team and in a crucial knockout match. They did not let the asking rate get away from them and both of them remained unbeaten notching up their half-centuries and sealing the win quite comfortably in the end.

ISLAMABAD UNITED ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL! This will be the first time since 2018, that they will be challenging for the trophy. They were down and out at the end of the Powerplay, but the experience and calmness of Imad Wasim along with the brutal power hitting from Haider Ali got them over the line with one over to spare. Peshawar Zalmi will be really disappointed as the game was in their grasp, but they let it slip away and their season ended in heartbreak.

FOUR! Imad Wasim fittingly hits the winning runs! Luke Wood pitches it up and around off, Imad Wasim leans on and creams it through covers for a boundary. Islamabad United win by 5 wickets and qualify for the final!

SCORES LEVEL! This is full again and on middle, Imad Wasim knocks it towards long on and comes back for the second run.

Fuller and on off, Haider Ali drills it towards mid off where a fumble allows a run.

SIX! FIFTY FOR ALI! He gets to it some style as well! Luke Wood serves this a bit full and around middle, Haider Ali gets into a good position early and hammers it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

OVERTHROWS! This is back of a length and on middle, Haider Ali misses his pull as the ball goes off his pads to backward point, the batters sets off for the leg bye, the fielder has a shy at the batter's end but misses as the batters get another leg bye.

A good yorker now, on middle and leg, Haider Ali tries to work it away but misses and gets hit on the pads as the ball goes nowhere.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR WASIM! A magnificent knock under pressure and that too in a knockout game. Aamer Jamal lands this short of a length and outside off, Imad Wasim pounces on it and cuts it away wide of deep point, the fielder runs to his right and dives but fails to stop it from going for a boundary. Islamabad United need 12 runs in 12 balls now!

A slower one, on a length and on leg, Haider Ali clips it through square leg for one.