The league stage suggested Islamabad United were the red-hot favorites for their third PSL title, but a comprehensive Peshawar Zalmi performance guaranteed that they would not even make the final.
A ruthless bowling performance from Zalmi was followed by a clinical chase, led by the indomitable Hazratullah Zazai and debutant Jonathan Wells. Their 126-run partnership saw Shadab Khan's side suffer an eight-wicket loss, chased down by 176, achieved with more than three overs to spare.
Zalmi was on top from start to finish, apart from a four-over spell at the back end of the first innings, where a spirited Hasan Ali innings ensured United remained competitive at least in the competition. The match began with the unfortunate run out of Usman Khawaja when Shoaib Malik was controversially believed to get his leg off a ball that went into the non-striker's stumps. Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz kept a lid on things even as Colin Munro let loose from time to time, finishing as United's strongest hope in the first half of the innings.
But it was the middle phase where Zalmi clarified. Shadab, Iftikhar Amed and Brandon King all fell cheap, with Amad Butt and Umaid Asif coming back strongly to pick up regular wickets. There was a danger that United would be bowled out under 120 before Hassan's brutal attack gave his team hope.
In response, United kept Zazai on a leash for the most part, bowling away from his hitting arc. But the failure to pick up more wickets at the top always meant the fear that Zalmi had enough firepower at the end to catch up with a climbing run rate. Wells and Zazai looked to the pressure without bowling their wickets, with the Australian doing particularly well in his first game to adjust to the conditions and pace his innings accordingly. In Shadab's third over, he let loose by dodging the United captain for three sixes in four balls on a forgettable day for Shadab; He will accept 55 of his four. He has never been so expensive in the history of PSL and the hope of his team was raised.
Zazai and Wells mirrored each other for most of the stand, which eventually broke down after 126 hard runs when Zazai cut Mohammad Wasim. By then the asking rate was almost run-a-ball, and the Shoaib Malik blitz - 32 off 10 balls - made light work of the funeral.
Hassan Ali Cameo
Is it really a cameo if a player becomes his side's top scorer? United looked like they had brilliantly blown their chances in the final after a listless performance from the top and middle-order, reducing them to 110 for 8. Importantly, though, Hasan was still out, and he was in no mood to bat in just 20 overs. Two fours and two sixes in Asif's 17th over whetted his appetite as the 26-year-old let loose the haze of monstrous shot-making. Zalmi was guilty of running at a pace towards him, and Ali loved the ball coming to the bat; Riaz was bundled out for 19 in the final over as the two-time champion scored 64 off the last four.
Wasim offered superb support at the other end, hitting a six on his own as the frontal attack continued from both sides. Hasan, meanwhile, was heroically run out on the final ball trying to come back on strike, scoring 45 off 16. Neither player deserved a half-century, but the knock had given his side a fair chance.
Important day of Mohammad Irfan
A lot happened with Irrfan today, but one thing that shouldn't really detract everyone is the constant consistency of the veteran's performances. For the third game in a row, Irfan conceded exactly 21 runs in his four overs, astonishing figures as the bowlers around him mixed themselves in all parts. The pace and length variations remain unpredictable, as batsmen as diverse as power hitters and anchors struggle to find a compromise against the huge bountiful bowler.
He also doubled with the priceless wicket of Munro when the New Zealander had helped United get a flying start and looked exceptionally dangerous. He was unfortunate that he didn't get a few balls earlier, with Kamran Akmal caressing an outside edge. On the last ball of the over, however, Munro played on a down leg side, and this time, Irfan had the wicket he deserved.
It was not - as we now know - what would dominate the chats related to Irfan later in the game. He pulled with an injury at the end of his spell umpire Aleem Dar, refusing to allow a substitute fielder in his place, deemed less than convincing. This meant that Zalmi was forced to play for a brief period with only ten players before Khalid Usman was allowed to come in as cover. But Irfan's most important contribution to the competition had already happened.
Where are they standing
Despite claiming the best ever group stage performance in the PSL, United are knocked out. Zalmi will face Multan Sultans in the final to be held on Thursday.