Babar and Yaqoob lead Peshawar to sensational win over Islamabad in PSL

Peshawar Zalmi rode Babar Azam’s century and leg-spinner Arif Yaqoob’s four-wicket over to beat Islamabad United by eight runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Monday night.

Babar smashed 111 not out off 63 balls with 14 fours and two sixes and anchored Peshawar to 201-5.

Islamabad were on course to upstage Babar’s masterful 11th Twenty20 century as Azam Khan (75) and Colin Munro (71) combined in an electrifying century stand. But Islamabad lost six wickets off the last 13 balls and stumbled to 193-9.

Yaqoob left two-time champion Islamabad shell-shocked after taking four wickets in the penultimate over that included the key wicket of Munro. Yaqoob finished with 5-27.

It was Peshawar’s second win in a high-scoring thriller in two days after beating Lahore Qalandars by same margin on Sunday night. Peshawar have three successive wins in the last four days. Islamabad have lost three in a row.

Babar Azam celebrates after scoring 100 against Islamabad in Lahore on Monday. AFP

Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul Haq ignited Islamabad’s collapse off his final ball in the 18th over when Azam Khan was caught at mid-off. Yaqoob then bowled one of the most memorable overs in PSL history by dismissing Munro, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Hunain Shah.