PSL: Misbah happy with 'ugly' win

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PSL: Misbah happy with ugly win
Dwayne Smith powered Islamabad United to a close win against Peshawar Zalmi in a PSL match on Saturday at the Sharjah STadium.

Sharjah - Islamabad United were taken right down to the last ball

By James Jose

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Published: Sun 19 Feb 2017, 6:37 PM

Last updated: Mon 20 Feb 2017, 11:58 PM

Each and everyone had their hearts in their mouth and teeth became nail-cutters. The 12th match of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) between Peshawar Zalmi and defending champions Islamabad United was such with it going right down to the wire.
It was a low target to chase but Islamabad United were taken right down to the last ball before Amad Butt, one of the emerging players from Pakistan kept his calm to hit and scamper for that match-winning single, off the last ball. And while Peshawar Zalmi had reason to fill despaired, having come agonisingly close, Islamabad United heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Islamabad United captain and old warhorse Misbah-ul-Haq said they would take a win, no matter how ugly. "A win is a win," said Misbah. And he reckoned that such matches will help when they do come across such situations in the future.
"These sort of games always help you understand how to come out of pressure situations. Three wins under the belt and all three wins have come like that, which is good for the team," he said.
"In Sharjah, batting under lights, especially with the new ball which swings and zips, it comes down to the fast bowlers doing well. And, credit to the fast bowlers of both teams for doing well. I think both teams have good fast bowling and that's why it was such a close game. It was a pressure situation but you always back your players. It was the first time Amad Butt was walking out to such a pressure situation but he did well," Misbah added.
Meanwhile, another veteran Mohammad Sami, who returned with Man-of-the-Match figures of three for 26 from four overs, said that he could call on his experience of having bowled on such pitches.
"I have been brought up on these kind of wickets, so I have some experience of bowling on these kind of surfaces. And I have paid some attention to fitness which has helped me," said Sami, who holds the Maroon Cap after being the highest wicket-taker so far.
The 35-year-old Sami has eight wickets from five matches. He has bowled 17 overs so far, conceded 113 runs and has a strike rate of 12.7.
james@khaleejtimes.com


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