Tag: (PSL)

Lahore, March 11, 2023 (PPI-OT): Multan Sultans opener Usman Khan put his former franchise Quetta Gladiators to the sword and fast bowler Abbas Afridi registered a hat-trick to help Peshawar Zalmi to qualify for the HBL Pakistan Super League Eliminator 1 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday. Usman, who played six matches for the Gladiators in 2021, hit a ruthless and destructive 43-ball 120 as Multan Sultans posted the league’s highest total of 262 for three. Abbas Afridi then recorded a split hat-trick and finished with figures of five for 47 as Quetta Gladiators put up a strong fight before finishing at 253 for eight. The match aggregate of 515 runs was a new world record, beating the match aggregate of 501 runs between the Titans and Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge in 2022.

Gladiators, who needed to achieve the target in 10.3 overs and then hope Peshawar Zalmi lose heavily on Sunday to progress to the playoffs, ended their campaign with three wins and seven defeats. Karachi Kings are presently languishing at the bottom of the table, but will have chance to finish ahead of the Gladiators when they will face Lahore Qaladars at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. However, to make it happen, they will have to beat the side that has recorded seven victories and has already qualified for the 15 March Qualifier.

The result also meant Peshawar Zalmi with four wins will feature in the 16 March Eliminator 1 irrespective of how their Sunday’s match against Islamabad United pans out. In contrast, if Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi, they will move to 14 points and will take on Lahore Qalandars in the 15 March Qualifier. In the scenario of Islamabad United losing on Sunday, they will finish on 12 points and third on points table on net run-rate, meaning they will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the 16 March Eliminator 1. Usman took full advantage of the absence of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain when he canned 12 fours and nine sixes in a 43-ball onslaught. He completed his first 50 from 22 balls with seven fours and three sixes, while his next 50 runs came off 14 balls with four fours and four sixes. His 36-ball 100 was the quickest century in HBL PSL, beating 24-hour-old record of team-mate Rilee Rossouw, who had reached the three figures in 41 balls against Peshawar Zalmi.

Usman made his intentions clear in the third over of the innings when he slapped Aimal Khan for four fours in five balls. In the sixth over, Usman welcomed Qais Ahmed by taking him to the cleaners by hitting three sixes and two fours as Multan Sultans completed their PowerPlay overs at 91 for no loss. Usman showed no respect to the Afghanistan bowler when he returned in the ninth over, again belting him for three sixes and two fours. The hapless Qais Ahmed ended up with the most expensive HBL PSL figures of 4-0-77-2. Usman was eventually stumped off a Mohammad Nawaz wide but after the Multan Sultans scoreboard showed 157 in 10 overs.

Rizwan carried on Usman’s good work by scoring 55 off 29 balls with six fours and two sixes, Tim David struck a 25-ball 43 not out with one four and four sixes and Kieron Pollard chipped in with 14-ball 23 not out with two fours and a six. Quetta Gladiators’ hopes for a miracle ended before the end of the fifth over when Jason Roy (6) and Martin Guptill (37) were back in the dressing room with the scoreboard reading 60, which soon became 68 for three with the demise of Mohammad Hafeez (1).

Iftikhar Ahmed and Omair Bin Yousuf entertained a packed house with lusty hitting in a 104-run fourth wicket stand from 57 balls. The partnership ended when Iftikhar departed after scoring a 31-ball 53 with four fours and four sixes. Omair soon followed Iftikhar after an entertaining 36-ball 67 with seven fours and three sixes. Umar Akmal scored 28 from 10 balls with two fours and three sixes, while Qais Ahmed and Naveen-ul-Haq also had some fun, scoring 17 each from seven balls apiece.

Abbas Afridi took wickets of Muhammad Nawaz, Umaid Asif and Umar Akmal off his successive balls to become the fifth bowler in HBL PSL to claim a hat-trick after Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Imran Tahir and Mohammad Sami. He had earlier dismissed Mohammad Hafeez and Iftikhar Ahmed to finish with figures of 4-0-47-5. While Abbas Afridi (22) snatched the Fazal Mahmood cap for leading wicket-taker from team-mate Ihsanullah (20), Mohammad Rizwan has retained the Hanif Mohammad Cap for leading run-scorer. Rizwan has 483 runs from 10 matches, while Babar Azam has scored 416 runs from nine matches.

Scores in brief

Match 28 – Multan Sultans beat Quetta Gladiators by nine runs

Multan Sultans 262-3, 20 overs (Usman Khan 120, Mohammad Rizwan 55, Tim David 43 not out, Kieron Pollard 23 not out; Qais Ahmed 2-77, Mohammad Nawaz 1-50,)

Quetta Gladiators 253-8, 20 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 67, Iftikhar Ahmed 53, Martin Guptill 37, Umar Akmal 28; Abbas Afridi 5-47, Ihsanullah 2-58)

Player of the match – Abbas Afridi (Multan Sultans)

Sunday’s fixtures Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United, Pindi Cricket Stadium (2pm); Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium (7pm).

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Pakistan Super League Secretariat, Gaddafi Stadium,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Email: info@psl-t20.com
Website: http://www.psl-t20.com/

Lahore, March 10, 2023 (PPI-OT):
Peshawar Zalmi failed to defend 240 runs or more for the second successive time as Multan Sultans won the 486-run thriller by four wickets to storm into the HBL Pakistan Super League 2023 playoffs in front of another full-house at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Rilee Rossouw stroked the fastest HBL PSL century off 41 balls, improving his own record by two balls, and Kieron Pollard blasted a 25-ball 52 as Multan Sultans achieved the 243-run target with five balls to spare. Multan Sultans needed 18 off two overs and three runs in the last over.

Rossouw was dismissed when 16 runs were required off nine balls after a blistering 121 off 51 balls with 12 fours and eight sixes. He had reached his 50 off 17 balls with six fours and four sixes, and featured in three match-winning partnerships.

Together with Pollard, who slapped three fours and five sixes, Rossouw put on 99 runs for the third wicket in 43 balls after Mohammad Rizwan (5) and Shan Masood (7) were back in the hut at the score of 28. For the fifth wicket with Khushdil Shah (18), Rossouw added 58 runs from 29 balls before he put on 21 off 13 with Anwar Ali (24 not out).

After Rossouw’s departure, Usama Mir ensured the good work of the South African was not spoiled as he clubbed a four and a six in a three-ball 11 not out to bring another famous win for the 2021 champions.

While this was a record HBL PSL run-chase, this is the joint-second highest run-chase overall in T20 cricket. For Peshawar Zalmi, it was the second successive time they were unable to defend this sizeable score after Quetta Gladiators had achieved the 241-run target for the loss of two wickets with 10 balls to spare.

The result means Peshawar Zalmi can now progress to the playoffs if Quetta Gladiators lose to Multan Sultans on Saturday evening or they defeat Islamabad United on Sunday afternoon. Both matches are scheduled in Rawalpindi.

Earlier, a Babar Azam master class, an attacking half-century by Saim Ayub and cameos by Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Mohammad Haris lifted Peshawar Zalmi to 242 for six after they had elected to bat first.

Babar Azam slapped nine fours and two sixes in a 39-ball 73, an innings that lifted him to second position on the leading run-getters table with 416 runs (12 runs behind Mohammad Rizwan of Multan Sultans). Saim Ayub continued his fairy-tale run when he clobbered five fours and four sixes in a 33-ball 58.

The master and his disciple provided Peshawar Zalmi a 134-run start, which was fully capitalised on by Haris (35 off 11 with one fours and four sixes) and Kohler-Cadmore (38 off 18 with four fours and two sixes).

Abbas Afridi was the pick of bowlers on what was a though day for the bowlers. The fast bowler registered figures of 4-0-39-4. The most expensive bowlers of the day were Anwar Ali of Multan Sultans (4-0-66-1) and Asmatullah Omarzai of Peshawar Zalmi (4-0-62-2).

Peshawar Zalmi reached 64 for no loss in the Power Play overs, 115 for no loss after the halfway stage and 173 for four after 15 overs. In the last five overs, Peshawar Zalmi collected 69 runs.

In contrast, Multan Sultans reached 66 for two in the Power Play overs, 131 for three after the halfway stage and 182 for four after 15 overs.

Scores in brief

Match 27 – Multan Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi by 4 wickets

Peshawar Zalmi 242-6, 20 overs (Babar Azam 73, Saim Ayub 58, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 38, Mohammad Haris 35, Abbas Afridi 4-39)

Multan Sultans 244-6, 19.1 overs (Rilee Rossouw 121, Kieron Pollard 52, Anwar Ali 24 not out; Asmatullah Omarzai 2-62)

Player of the Match – Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans)

Saturday’s fixture: Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium

Points table:

Team – Played – Won – Lost – Points – Net Run Rate

Lahore Qalandars – 9 – 7 – 2 – 14 – 1.494

Islamabad United – 9 – 6 – 3 – 12 – -0.713

Multan Sultans – 9 – 5 – 4 – 10 – 0.489

Peshawar Zalmi – 9 – 4 – 5 – 8 – -0.584

Quetta Gladiators – 9 – 3 – 6 – 6 – -1.120

Karachi Kings – 9 – 2 – 7 – 4 – 0.358

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Pakistan Super League Secretariat, Gaddafi Stadium,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Email: info@psl-t20.com
Website: http://www.psl-t20.com/

Rawalpindi, March 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): Quetta Gladiators’ Jason Roy has termed his 145 not out against Peshawar Zalmi as his best T20 innings, adding it was also a great advert for the HBL Pakistan Super League. Roy clobbered 20 fours and five sixes in a 63-ball blitz as the Gladiators chased down an improbable 241 for the loss of two wickets with 10 balls to spare to keep his side’s slim chances of qualifying for the play-offs alive.

“It was a great advert for the HBL PSL and T20 cricket. Obviously, bowlers don’t want to be turning up and playing on these wickets every single game, but people and kids are watching and loving this sort of a game.

“This is the sort of game I remember as a kid that really drew me to cricket and the people. For sure, this is the sort of stuff that excites, draws and attracts the next generation of players,” Roy said at the post-match press conference on Wednesday evening.

Roy became the highest individual scorer in HBL PSL, beating Colin Ingram’s 127 not out for Karachi Kings against Quetta Gladiators in 2019, as the Gladiators completed the fourth-highest T20 chase of all time. Roy’s 44-ball century was the second quickest in HBL PSL history after Rilee Rossouw 43-ball century for Multan Sultans against Quetta Gladiators in 2020. The match aggregate of 483 runs was the highest in HBL PSL history as well as in Asia, and seventh highest overall.

“It’s an incredible, incredible feeling. For me in T20 cricket, it’s up there as one of my favourite innings ever because I was there till the end. A lot of the times when I’ve batted in limited overs as an opening batter, I have scored a 100 and then I got out with 20 or so runs still required. But tonight, I was there till the end, which is an incredible feeling as an opening batter. Definitely this innings will live in my memory for a long time.

“We knew chasing 240 convincingly in 13 or 14 overs was probably out of reach. So, it was just a case of trying to hit as many fours and sixes as possible on a great wicket and fast outfield, and get close to the title and then see where we are at.

“In the change room, it was just one of those things that you’ve got to pad up, all the fear of failure goes out of the window and you just have a lot of fun with Martin Guptill, who has done it all around the world and scored thousands of runs. We walked out there very relaxed. We didn’t feel any pressure on our shoulders at all. And on that wicket with that crowd, it was electrifying.

“It has been a tough season for us and we’ve not been able to put together the performances we would have wanted to, but we’ve got a great group of people and they do a lot for me. So, I’m just really pleased I was able put a performance together to put some smiles on their faces.”

Roy heaped a lot of praise on Babar Azam, who scored 115 off 65 balls with 15 fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of almost 177 but still ended up on the losing side. It was Babar’s eighth century in T20 cricket, second most after Chris Gayle (22).

“That was an incredible (innings) to watch, unfortunately, it was against us. It’s the sort of stuff I’ve watched on TV loads of times, but to watch it first-hand was extremely special.

“Babar was helped extremely well from the other end with his opening partner (Saim Ayub), a youngster coming through. So, to watch it first-hand was very special, though he could have done with getting a little less to make it easier for us!

“It made for an incredible game of cricket, one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life, for sure.”

Points table:

Team – Played – Won – Lost – Points – Net Run Rate

Lahore Qalandars – 8 – 6 – 2 – 12 – 0.938

Islamabad United – 8 – 6 – 2 – 12 – -0.036

Multan Sultans – 8 – 4 – 4 – 8 – 0.473

Peshawar Zalmi – 8 – 4 – 4 – 8 – -0.58

Quetta Gladiators – 9 – 3 – 6 – 6 – -1.12

Karachi Kings – 9 – 2 – 7 – 4 – 0.358

Upcoming HBL PSL 8 matches:

9 Mar – Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium

10 Mar – Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium

11 Mar – Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium

12 Mar – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium

15 Mar – Qualifier (1 v 2), Gaddafi Stadium

16 Mar – Eliminator 1 (3 v 4), Gaddafi Stadium

17 Mar – Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1), Gaddafi Stadium

19 Mar – Final, Gaddafi Stadium

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Pakistan Super League Secretariat, Gaddafi Stadium,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Email: info@psl-t20.com
Website: http://www.psl-t20.com/

Rawalpindi, March 09, 2023 (PPI-OT): Fakhar Zaman punished Islamabad United for letting him off twice by belting a swashbuckling century that earned defending champions Lahore Qalandars a place in the 15 March HBL PSL 8 Qualifier in Lahore with a thumping 119 runs victory in front of another full-house at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Fakhar made the best of the dropped catches at two (by Asif Ali off Hasan Ali) and 72 (by Hasan Ali off Shadab Khan) to score 115, his second HBL PSL century, as Lahore Qalandars posted 226 for five after electing to bat first.

Islamabad United, which has already qualified for the play-offs, had no chance against a world-class Lahore Qalandars bowling attack after they managed 50 for two in the Power Play overs before Rashid Khan ran through the middle-order on way to figures of four for 21 as the home side was spun out for 107 in 15.1 overs with Azam Khan absent hurt after injuring his left hand while keeping wickets.

The 119-run defeat was the heaviest in the history of HBL PSL, while it was Lahore Qalandars’ second successive victory over Islamabad United by a margin of over 100 runs. The champions had recorded a 110-run victory at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Lahore Qalandars’ opponent on 15 March at the Gaddafi Stadium will be decided on Sunday in Rawalpindi when Islamabad United will take on Peshawar Zalmi at 2pm. Meanwhile, Friday’s winner between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans will become the third side to qualify for the play-off, with the winner of Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans match in Rawalpindi on Saturday will complete the play-offs line-up.

Returning to their tested and successful winning formula of batting first, Lahore Qalandars lost an in-form Abdullah Shafique on the third ball before Fakhar Zaman and Kamran Ghulam stitched a 122-run second wicket partnership off 62 balls to put the defending champions back on track.

The partnership ended when Kamran perished after scoring a 30-ball 41 with four fours and two sixes. At that stage, Fakhar found another depending ally in Sam Billings as the two batters added 70 off 43 for the third wicket. Lahore Qalandars did well to collect 72 runs in the final five overs after they were 122 for one at the halfway stage.

The star of Lahore Qalandars’ imposing 226 for five was Fakhar Zaman, who destroyed Islamabad United bowlers with his trademark and signature shots to walk away with the player of the match award.

Fakhar, who was dropped on the fourth ball he faced by Asif Ali in the first slip, drove elegantly, pulled convincingly and slog-swept emphatically to send Islamabad United bowlers on a never-ending leather hunt.

Fakhar’s 57-ball 115 included eight fours and eight sixes. His first 50 runs came off 24 balls with six fours and two sixes, while his second 50 runs came off 26 balls with two fours and four sixes. It required an excellent catch by Mohammad Wasim at deep backward square leg off Hasan Ali to terminate Fakhar’s onslaught that thoroughly entertained an excited and jubilant crowd.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, who dismissed Abdullah Shafique in the first over, added the scalps of Billings and David Wiese to finish with figures of three for 40.

In their chase, Islamabad United started aggressively but it was a very brief period where they looked like in some sort of control. The dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (15) and Colin Munro (11) off Zaman Khan inside the Power Play with Azam Khan unavailable to bat meant it was just the delay of the inevitable.

Wrist spinner Rashid Khan sealed Islamabad United’s fate when he accounted for Shadab Khan (12), Mubasir Khan (3), Asif Ali (7) and Faheem Ashraf 4) before Haris Rauf returned to account for Hasan Ali (18) and Mohammad Wasim (8) to wrap up a comfortable win for the title-favourites.

Scores in brief

Match 26 – Lahore Qalandars beat Islamabad United by 119 runs

Lahore Qalandars 226-5, 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 115, Kamran Ghulam 41, Sam Billings 32; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-40)

Islamabad United 107 all out, 15.1 overs (Alex Hales 18, Hassan Ali 18; Rashid Khan 4-21, Haris Rauf 2-16, Zaman Khan 2-17)

Player of the Match – Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars)

Friday’s fixture Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium

Points table:

Team – Played – Won – Lost – Points – Net Run Rate

Lahore Qalandars – 9 – 7 – 2 – 14 – 1.494

Islamabad United – 9 – 6 – 3 – 12 – -0.713

Multan Sultans – 8 – 4 – 4 – 8 – 0.473

Peshawar Zalmi – 8 – 4 – 4 – 8 – -0.58

Quetta Gladiators – 9 – 3 – 6 – 6 – -1.12

Karachi Kings – 9 – 2 – 7 – 4 – 0.358

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Pakistan Super League Secretariat, Gaddafi Stadium,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Email: info@psl-t20.com
Website: http://www.psl-t20.com/