As convincing as it gets for Islamabad United, in what was a crucial game for the side, they went on to trash Lahore Qalandars by 71 runs.
The battle of the powerplay
Islamabad has looked to attack the powerplay, their lowest score this season in the first 6 overs has been 47. The mindset to attack is to give the side a strong platform, with the fielders in there are more opportunities for you to score your runs. This season Islamabad United have scored at close to 9 runs an over in the powerplay, while losing a wicket every 6 overs.
Their opponents for today also approach the powerplay the same way, prior to the game today. Lahore Qalandars scored at 9.7 runs per over, whole losing a wicket every 6 overs.
So in the battle of the powerplay between both these sides, Lahore has been the better side by scoring runs quicker than Islamabad United.
Today Islamabad United did what was expected of them in the powerplay overs, scoring 50 runs in their 6 overs for the loss of no wickets. On a flat batting surface, Lahore Qalandars were expected to go at the levels set by them, but Lahore Qalandars managed just 35 runs at less than a run a ball while losing two wickets.
This underwhelming Lahore Qalandars powerplay was down to a brilliant spell of fast bowling from Dale Steyn who got the ball to swing from lengths which one would usually see in test matches. Bowling 3 overs for just 10 runs and picking the key wicket of Chris Lynn.
Islamabad’s two halves
10 overs in and Islamabad United were 94/0, the side, the first 10 overs had some attacking stroke play and Islamabad had built that platform for the flourish for the second half of the innings.
With no wickets down, the second half of Islamabad’s innings was effectively a T10 innings with the batsman (given the depth) having free reign to go after the bowling attack. So when they could only manage 104 runs in 10 overs, it does seem a tad bit disappointing.
Munro’s long stay
Colin Munro has played 242 T20 innings, he has faced 50 or more balls in just 9 of them (that’s 3.7% of all his innings), his average score when he faces 50 or more balls is 90 runs.
Against Lahore he added another 50+ balls innings in his tally, today he scored 89 runs. But like the Islamabad United innings his innings also was one of two halves, in the first half he scored 51 runs in 33 balls at 9.27 RPO being the aggressive partner in the opening partnership, but the second half saw him score 38 runs in 26 balls at just 8.78 RPO.
Munro’s knock was crucial given how he hasn’t been consistent with his contributions for Islamabad United. But with him back in the runs the confidence was back.
Spinners smash home the advantage
Islamabad United brought on their spinners (Shadab Khan & Zafar Gohar) straight away after the powerplay and they bowled straight through for the next 8 overs.
With LQ 35/2, the need of the hour was to have a go at the spinners and reduce the required run rate. But the pitch had something to offer, both the spinners got the ball to grip and turn making it nearly impossible for the Qalandars batsmen to play any attacking strokes.
The spinners combined to bowl their 8 overs conceding just 52 runs but picking up 5 wickets between themselves, completely demolishing the Qalandars chase.
Zafar Gohar who played his first game this season was on the money picking 3 wickets for 31 runs, whole Shadab Khan was at his economical best conceding just 21 runs and picking 2 wickets.
Asif Ali’s cameo
You have 15 balls left in the innings, you walk in to bat. You have to smash every ball to the boundary. Asif Ali walks in, faced 6 balls and scored 20 runs, with 3 boundaries and 1 maximum.
Asif’s role in the side is to come in the death overs and power the side to a flourishing finish, he scores at 12.69 runs per over in the death, today he scored 20 runs per over. Asif is good for such cameos and if he gets going, the results could be explosive.
Yes Asif Ali faced just 6 balls, but his innings was the difference in Islamabad’s second half being a poor one to being an acceptable one. Minus Asif’s contribution, Islamabad scored just 84 runs in 9 overs at 9.33 runs per over. So that innings did have an impact even if it was just for one solitary over.
Next up for Islamabad United is Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi cricket stadium on Saturday.