Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 29 runs in the Pakistan Super League match in Rawalpindi on Monday to rise to third position on the points table despite Aamir Jamal’s heroics.

United skipper Shadab was declared player of the match for his all-round performance. He scored 80 with the bat and claimed three vital scalps with the ball.

Zalmi was five for 18 while chasing the 197-run target set by the home side. Babar Azam was run out for nought as tried to pick a single after nudging the ball toward mid-on where Alex Hales took no time to hit the stumps.

But it was Aamir Jamal who gave hope to Zalmi in the match. With Paul Walter, he joined forces to put on the highest-ever sixth-wicket partnership in HBL PSL history, scoring 107 off 62 balls. Jamal brought up his maiden T20 fifty off just 27 balls on the back of five boundaries and three sixes.

Zalmi required 77 off the last five overs when Shadab brought himself on and broke the threatening partnership when he dismissed Walter.

Shadab returned in the 18th over to seal the game for United as he brought an end to Jamal’s fighting knock of 87 from 49 balls comprising eight fours and six towering maximums.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and elected to bowl first. Saim, opening the bowling for Zalmi, took Hales by surprise on the very first ball, as he rattled the stumps of the United opener with a vicious carrom ball pitched on a teasing length.