Peshawar Zalmi move within one win of PSL final after defeating Islamabad United

Zalmi will face Lahore Qalandars on March 17 with a trophy showdown against Multan Sultans at stake

Lahore: Peshawar Zalmi 183-8, Islamabad United 171-6 – Peshawar Zalmi won by 12 runs

Peshawar Zalmi moved to within one win of the PSL final after defeating Islamabad United by 12 runs.

They will face defending champions Lahore Qalandars on March 17, with the winner advancing to Saturday's trophy showdown against Multan Sultans.

Batting first, captain Babar Azam led from the front for Zalmi, scoring 64 runs off 39 deliveries at the top of the order.

Opener Saim Ayub (23 off 16) was also among the runs while Mohammad Haris blasted 34 runs off 17 balls at No.4.

^{Alex Hales and Sohaib Maqsood scored half-centuries for Islamabad United [Arif Ali/Getty Images]}

^{Aamer Jamal made a number of key contributions with the ball [Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images]}

However, following Haris' departure in the 15th over, Zalmi's innings rather fizzled out, with regular wickets restricting them to 35 runs off the remaining 5.1 overs.

In reply, Azmatullah Omarzai struck in the second over to remove Rahmanullah Gurbaz before Alex Hales and Sohaib Maqsood put Islamabad United's chase back on track with a 115-run partnership off 77 balls for the second wicket.

Aamer Jamal (2 for 36) made the crucial breakthrough at the start of the 15th over, bowling Maqsood for 60 (48).

Jamal struck twice more in the 17th over, bowling Hales for 57 (37) and running out Faheem Ashraf, while Salman Irshad (2 for 18) also took two wickets to all but end United's hopes of a successful chase.

Despite Shadab Khan blasting 26 runs off 12 balls, they fell 13 runs short of victory.