Despite Jamal’s fireworks, all-round Shadab seals the important win.

Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 29 runs in the Pakistan Super League on Monday, despite Aamer Jamal’s rapid-fire half-century.

Islamabad scored 196-4, owing primarily to captain Shadab Khan’s 80 off 51 balls.

In the power play, brothers Naseem Shah (1-26) and Hunain Shah (2-25) ripped through Peshawar’s top order, reducing the score to 18-5.

Jamal spearheaded the comeback, slamming 87 off 49 balls to lead them to 152-6 in the 18th over before being clean-bowled by Shadab, who finished with 3-41.

United moved up to third place in the six-team table, with a higher net run rate than Zalmi.

Zalmi’s chase was derailed early on as skipper Babar Azam was unnecessarily run out of the first ball he faced. Babar was unable to beat Alex Hales’ direct toss at the non-striker’s end.

Saim Ayub was caught in the slips in an adventurous opening over, and Imad Wasim dismissed Mohammad Haris with a well-judged, crisp two-handed catch at short fine leg for 3-3. Hunain’s double-wicket maiden exacerbated Peshawar’s collapse.

Jamal counterattacked in the middle overs, combining for 107 runs with Paul Walter, who added 33. Jamal hammered six sixes and eight hours before misreading Shadab’s googly and hitting a 102-meter six.

Earlier, after being put in to bat in cold weather, Hales’ middle stump was smashed back by Ayub’s first delivery, a carrom ball. However, Shadab shared two key half-century stands with Agha Salman (37) and Jordan Cox (26). Azam Khan’s undefeated 29 from 14 produced a late surge.