KARACHI: Islamabad Unit­ed’s spinners exploited a sluggish pitch to perfection before Devon Conway and Mohammad Faiq guided their side to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in their HBL Pakistan Super League clash in a hot afternoon here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

On a sticky surface that demanded patience rather than power, United adapted far better than their opponents, restricting Lahore to a scanty 100 — the lowest total recorded at the venue in the PSL history — before completing the chase with clinical ease.

Australian off-spinner Chris Green led the effort with a disciplined spell of 3-19, supported effectively by Imad Wasim and captain Shadab Khan as Lahore’s batting repeatedly faltered against spin on a surface offering grip and variable pace.

“I thought it was a great wicket for a day game,” Green said afterwards. “The square was quite dry and, to be honest, it was a complete bowling performance.”

Lahore never recovered after a cautious start. The slow track blunted their batters’ attacking strokes forcing them to commit mistakes as they crawled to 34-2 in powerplay.

Imad in the opening over remo­ved Mohammad Naeem (nought) before the left-arm spinner sent Abdullah Shafique (10) back as the batter picked out a diving Shadab at mid-off in the fifth over.

Green bowled Haseebullah Khan (19 off 22 balls) in the eighth over with a delivery that held its line, while Rubin Herm­ann (four) holed out off Shadab in the ninth as Qalandars slipped to 50-4 at the halfway mark.

Asif Ali briefly threatened to launch a counterattack, striking Faheem Ashraf for a six in the 12th over, but fell soon after attempting another big hit, handing Shadab his second wicket.

Green then produced a standout moment in the field, diving sharply to his right to complete a return catch and dismiss debutant Ryan Burl (two) in the 14th.

Sikandar Raza attempted to rebuild with a measured knock, striking boundaries through placement rather than power, but scoring remained laborious.

The Zimbabwean all-rounder eventually departed for 25 off 19 balls in the 16th over, sweeping Green straight to short fine leg as the Qalandars’ hopes, who were now 91-7, of a late recovery faded.

Richard Gleeson cleaned up the tail efficiently, bowling Haris Rauf with a slower full toss before uprooting Ubaid Shah’s stumps with a pinpoint Yorker. Faheem Ashraf dismissed captain Shah­een Shah Afridi (nine) to end the innings in the penultimate over.

“Batting on this wicket wasn’t as difficult as the scoreboard reflec­ted,” Raza said after the match. “Nowadays T20 cricket is becoming more about slogging than the demonstration of batsmanship.

“I told the boys in the dressing room that we need to focus on batsmanship rather than slogging if we want to be successful in Karachi.”

Islamabad, in contrast, approached the chase with clarity and composure.

Although Sameer Minhas fell early to Shaheen, United maintained control through Conway and Faiq, whose partnership blended calculated aggression with intelligent strike rotation.

Conway settled quickly, flicking Shaheen for a four before lifting Ubaid over the infield for six. Faiq complimented him with elegant strokeplay, driving through the covers and consistently finding gaps.

United surged to 51-1 in powerplay, effectively placing the result beyond doubt. Conway struck consecutive boundaries off Shaheen while Faiq matched the momentum against Haris as Qalandars’ bowlers struggled to replicate the control shown by United’s spinners earlier.

With only 50 runs required from 84 deliveries at one stage, the chase became a formality.

Conway continued to dominate, employing sweeps and straight drives before launching Musta­fizur Rehman down the ground. Two sixes and a boundary brought the scores level by the halfway stage of the innings.

Faiq then completed the job, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 19 balls with the aid of six fours, while Conway remained not out on a fluent 59 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes in an innings that combined authority with adaptability.

“It was great to get Devon some good time in the middle,” Green said. “It was the first time Sameer missed out, so he is human after all. He has really impressed me, and Faiq was brilliant as well.”

The victory marked United’s third win in five matches, lifting them to second place on the table in the eight-team league.

SCOREBOARD

LAHORE QALANDARS:

Haseebullah Khan b Green 19

Mohammad Naeem c Sameer b Imad 0

Abdullah Shafique c Shadab b Imad 10

Rubin Hermann c Sameer b Shadab 4

Sikandar Raza c Salman b Green 25

Asif Ali c Faiq b Shadab 15

Ryan Burl c&b Green 2

Shaheen Shah Afridi c Conway b Faheem 9

Haris Rauf b Gleeson 2

Ubaid Shah b Gleeson 1

Mustafizur Rahman not out 0

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-6, NB-1, W-4) 13

TOTAL (all out, 18.3 overs) 100

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Naeem), 2-27 (Abdullah), 3-41 (Haseebullah), 4-41 (Hermann), 5-72 (Asif), 6-76 (Burl), 7-91 (Raza), 8-96 (Haris), 9-99 (Ubaid)

BOWLING: Imad 4-0-13-2, Gleeson 3-0-13-2 (3w, 1nb), Faheem 2.3-0-21-1 (1w), Green 4-0-19-3, Shadab 4-0-18-2, Salman 1-0-8-0

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

Devon Conway not out 59

Sameer Minhas c Ubaid b Shaheen 5

Mohammad Faiq not out 34

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-1) 6

TOTAL (for one wicket, 10.2 overs) 104

DID NOT BAT: Haider Ali, Mark Chapman, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Salman Irshad, Chris Green

FALL OF WICKET: 1-11 (Sameer)

BOWLING: Shaheen 3-0-22-1, Ubaid 2-0-14-0, Haris 1-0-10-0 (1w), Mustafizur 2-0-16-0, Raza 2-0-33-0, Burl 0.2-0-4-0

RESULT: Islamabad United won by nine wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Chris Green

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2026

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi survived a late scare to beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets in a tense HBL Pakistan Super League encounter at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday night, overcoming a spirited defence of a modest total in an unusually subdued atmosphere.

The venue painted a picture of emptiness. With stands largely vacant due to the government’s ongoing austerity drive and the stadium’s iconic roof removed as part of a planned renovation, the action unfolded in stark openness.

The silence in the stands, however, was replaced by relentless energy from Kingsmen players, who attempted to compensate for the lack of crowd support with constant chatter and encouragement on the field.

Defending a below-par 145 — and still searching for their first win of the tournament — the Kingsmen relied on intensity and discipline to drag the contest deep despite Peshawar appearing comfortably in control for much of the chase.

Zalmi were cruising at one stage, requiring 30 runs off 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand, before Hyderabad’s bowlers triggered a dramatic slowdown.

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana and pacer Mohammad Ali conceded only nine runs across two tight overs, applying pressure that shifted momentum.

Hunain Shah then produced a crucial spell, extending a streak of dot balls while dismissing Abdul Samad to leave Zalmi suddenly uncertain.

When Ali followed with a miserly five-run over, Zalmi needed 15 off the final six deliveries, turning what once looked routine into a nerve-racking finish.

Iftikhar Ahmed, however, held his nerve. The experienced all-rounder broke the tension by driving Hunain through the line for four before launching a towering six to reduce the equation to two runs off two balls.

Calm singles by Iftikhar (15 off 10) and Aamer Jamal sealed victory with four wickets in hand.

Earlier, Zalmi’s chase had begun briskly. Mohammad Haris flicked Ali for a six off the very first ball before departing early, but captain Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis ensured momentum remained intact.

Babar mixed sweeps and drives effectively against Maaz Sadaqat’s left-arm spin, while Mendis counterattacked with two sixes off Maaz and Hassan Khan as Zalmi raced to 56-1 in the powerplay.

The partnership provided a solid platform before Mendis’ aggressive cameo ended when he holed out to Ali at deep square-leg off Saim Ayub’s spin in the ninth over.

At 78-2 halfway through the chase, Zalmi looked firmly in control, needing 68 runs from the final 10 overs.

Kingsmen, though, responded with renewed discipline. Hunain began the squeeze with a one-run over, during which Michael Bracewell survived a caught-behind appeal.

Bracewell and Babar briefly restored control with timely boundaries, the New Zealander even scooping Hunain for six to ease pressure.

But Hyderabad struck back through Saim, who removed Bracewell for 25 off 19 balls before dismissing Babar for a composed 43 off 37 deliveries.

Pakistan Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf attempted to maintain momentum with attacking strokes against Hassan and Theekshana, but Ali trapped him lbw in a crucial 17th over that yielded just two runs, setting up the tense finale eventually decided by Iftikhar’s late assault.

In the first innings, Zalmi’s bowlers had laid the foundation for victory by restricting Hyderabad to a modest total.

Iftikhar starred with the ball, dismantling the Kingsmen’s top order with remarkable efficiency to finish with figures of 4-21, all claimed within the powerplay.

His strikes left Hyderabad struggling before captain Marnus Labuschagne and Kusal Perera mounted a counterattack that briefly revived their innings.

With four wickets already down when Perera arrived at the crease, the Sri Lankan left-hander chose aggression as the only option.

He pulled Nahid Rana for six off just his third delivery and followed it with a crisp cover drive, lifting Hyderabad to 51-4 by the end of the powerplay.

Labuschagne, meanwhile, showcased adaptability while exploring his T20 credentials, negotiating Iftikhar carefully before striking three boundaries in an over off Sufiyan Muqeem’s wrist spin.

The pair added 82 runs off 55 balls, steadying Kingsmen to 86-4 at the halfway stage. Perera continued attacking, sweeping Sufiyan for six as the Kingsmen threatened to post a competitive total.

The breakthrough finally came in the 15th over when Labuschagne miscued Sufiyan and offered a simple catch to Shoriful Islam at short fine-leg.

Perera soon completed a fighting half-century off 31 balls with a powerful boundary through square, but Kingsmen’s resurgence proved short-lived.

Sufiyan returned to dismantle the lower order, dismissing Irfan Khan with a googly before removing Perera and Theekshana in quick succession.

A sharp catch by Iftikhar ended Hassan’s stay as Hyderabad were bowled out for a total that ultimately fell short.

Despite a spirited bowling effort that nearly turned the match on its head, Kingsmen’s winless run continued, while Zalmi walked away relieved after a contest that proved far closer than the target suggested.

Scoreboard

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:

Maaz Sadaqat c Aamer b Iftikhar17

Saim Ayub c Haris b Iftikhar14

Sharjeel Khan b Iftikhar2

Usman Khan c Sufiyan b Iftikhar0

Marnus Labuschagne c Shoriful b Sufiyan27

Kusal Perera c Iftikhar b Sufiyan58

Irfan Khan c Babar b Sufiyan9

Hassan Khan c Iftikhar b Aamer9

Maheesh Theekshana c&b Sufiyan0

Hunain Shah run out0

Mohammad Ali not out0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-4, W-1)9

TOTAL (all out, 18.2 overs)145

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-26 (Maaz), 2-33 (Saim), 3-33 (Usman), 4-34 (Sharjeel), 5-116 (Labuschagne), 6-136 (Irfan), 7-137 (Perera), 8-137 (Theekshana), 9-144 (Hunain)

BOWLING: Bracewell 4-0-26-0 (1w), Shoriful 2-0-21-0, Iftikhar 4-0-21-4, Nahid 3-0-30-0, Sufiyan 4-0-32-4, Aamer 1.2-0-7-1

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Mohammad Haris c Labuschagne b Theekshana11

Babar Azam lbw b Hassan Khan43

Kusal Mendis c Ali b Saim27

Michael Bracewell c Irfan b Saim25

Farhan Yousaf lbw b Ali15

Abdul Samad c Usman b Hunain1

Iftikhar Ahmed not out15

Aamer Jamal not out6

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1)3

TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs)146

DID NOT BAT: Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Haris), 2-66 (Mendis), 3-104 (Bracewell), 4-116 (Babar), 5-125 (Farhan), 6-125 (Samad)

BOWLING: Ali 3-0-16-1, Theekshana 4-0-36-1, Hassan 3-0-25-1, Maaz 2-0-16-0, Saim 4-0-19-2, Hunain 4-0-32-1 (1w)

RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by four wickets.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2026

MONTE CARLO: Daniil Medvedev slipped to an embarrassing 6-0, 6-0 thrashing by Matteo Berrettini in the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Wednesday, as Alexander Zverev dug deep to beat Cristian Garin.

Medevdev completely unravelled against Berrettini after missing two break points in the opening game, making 30 unforced errors and serving five double faults.

Medvedev did not win more than two points in any of the last 11 games and his frustrations boiled over in the second set, smashing his racquet into the court four times.

Berrettini wrapped up the double-bagel victory, the first such defeat of former world number one Medvedev’s career, in just 49 minutes.

“I think it was one of the best performances of my life,” Berrettini said.

“I think I missed three shots in the entire match and it is not easy against a tricky player like Daniil. I think the game plan was perfect and my weapons were working.”

The former Wimbledon runner-up, now ranked 90th, will face Joao Fonseca in the last 16 after the Brazilian teenager beat Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

World number three Zverev, who is hoping to complete the set of all three clay-court Masters 1000 titles this week, staged a late comeback to edge out Chilean qualifier Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Zverev has reached the semi-finals at each of the Australian Open, Indian Wells and the Miami Open this year but was in danger of a shock exit after losing the first set and then trailing 4-0 in the third.

Garin also served for the match when 5-3 ahead in the deciding set, but Zverev broke and then sealed victory by reeling off five consecutive games.

He had to stave off three break points in a nervy 12th game to avoid a tie-break, but eventually got the job done on his third match point.

“My level was not there at all to be honest,” Zverev said after taking two hours and 50 minutes to get over the line.

“But it was my first clay-court match in 11 months. I didn’t have much time to prepare as I played well in Miami.

“I am happy to get the win. It was a tough match and he is someone playing well, especially here.”

The 28-year-old will face unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs, who downed 2023 champion Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1, in round three.

Zverev has not won an ATP title since Munich 12 months ago, while the last of his seven Masters triumphs came in Paris in 2024.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2026