Tait denied hat-trick, Islamabad reach PSL final

Brad Haddin’s Islamabad United have set a date with Kevin Pietersen and Kumar Sangakkarra in the final of the Pakistan Super League after winning an eventful qualifying final against Peshawar Zalmi.

A thrilling Sharjeel Khan hundred, featuring eight sixes, set up the victory for Islamabad, who will now take on Pietersen and Sangakkara’s Quetta Gladiators in the final of the inaugural PSL in Dubai.

Sent in by Peshawar, Khan and fellow opener Dwayne Smith appeared to be batting on different pitches as Khan raced to 82 off 42 balls while the West Indian Smith scratched around for a 37-ball 19 before being trapped lbw by Australian paceman Shaun Tait.

Haddin, trying to work his first delivery through the offside, was bowled by his former teammate the very next ball, to leave Islamabad 2-108 in the 14th over.

Tait was then cruelly denied a hat-trick as wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal dropped a leg-side chance off Khalid Latif from the next delivery.

With a willing ally in Latif, Khan continued his explosive hitting and registered the first ever hundred in the PSL with a six over long-off off the bowling of Shahid Afridi.

He was eventually run out for 117 from just 62 balls in the final over of the innings and Latif finished unbeaten on 28 off 21 balls as Islamabad set Peshawar a victory target of 177.

Their chase never really got going, with Akmal (45 off 32 balls) and Afridi (38 from 17) the only two batsmen to reach double digits as they were bowled out for 126 in the 18th over.

The Quetta Gladiators await Islamabad in the final, which will get underway on Wednesday morning (AEDT).