Tag: IU vs LQ

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan continued to support his team’s fearless approach despite suffering the heaviest defeat of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) history. 

On Thursday, United lost their second clash against Lahore Qalandars in the ongoing PSL season 8 as they were bundled out for a meagre 107 while chasing a massive 227, giving defending champions a resounding 119-run victory.

“These failures are bound to happen when you are going with a fearless approach,” said Shadab in a post-match press conference, adding, “I will still back my team and this approach.”

He elaborated that the team had won a number of high-scoring matches with their attacking approach and it was not possible to win each and every game.

“We have chased targets above 200 in the last three matches. You cannot chase without such an approach. In fact, it’s not necessary that you chase 200 every day, especially against such quality bowling.”

United’s captain, however, did not shy away from accepting the loopholes in teams’ bowling and hoped that it would come back in the next matches.

“Our bowling has been conceding 200 runs consistently which I believe should not be the case,” he said.

Moreover, Shadab added that people should not demand modern-day cricket from the Pakistan team if they were not willing to accept the failures.

“When you ask a player or any team to score 200 (in T20s), there are higher chances of failures. But, as a nation, we do not accept it. We want modern-day cricket and at the same time not ready to accept failures, which is not possible” he said.

When asked about the nature of pitches in the PSL which saw bowlers not getting any kind of help, Shadab believed although the bowlers suffered at these wickets but gave the spectators the kind of entertainment they wanted to see.

“Crowd want to see sixes and fours. No one wants to see the dot balls. I think these days if you do not offer such entertainment to the crowd why would they bother to come to the stadiums,” he maintained.

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RAWALPINDI: Fakhar Zaman scored a magnificent century before bowlers powered Lahore Qalandars to a resounding 119-run victory over Islamabad United to retain their top spot in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight standings.

Set to chase a massive 227, the strong United batting lineup crumbled against a disciplined Qalandars’ bowling attack and consequently bundled out for a meagre 107 in absence of their in-form batter Azam Khan.

The United openers, earlier in the run chase, provided a flying start to their side as they raced up to 31/0 in the first three overs.

The Qalandars, who were put under pressure right from the start of the pursuit then finally found a moment of cherish as Zaman Khan got rid of danger-looking Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who could score a run-a-ball 15.

Gurbaz’s dismissal triggered a match-defining collapse as the United lost wickets at regular intervals before eventually being restricted to 107/9 in the 16th over.

Since their wicketkeeper batter Azam, did not come to bat due to an injury, which he suffered in the first innings, the United were deemed all out and thus Qalandars registered a dominating 119-run victory over the hosts.

Tailender Hasan Ali and opener Alex Hales remained the joint top-scorer for the United in their dismal show with the bat as both could score 18.

Rashid Khan led the Qalandars’ bowling attack with 4/21 while Haris Rauf and Zaman bagged two each. David Wiese, on the other hand, made one scalp.

Opting to bat first, the Qalandars made the most of the batting paradise on offer as the visitors dominated the host bowlers to pile up a massive total at the back of a scintillating century by Fakhar.

Earlier, the defending champions were off to a poor start as they lost their in-form batter Abdullah Shafique for just one in the first over.

Fakhar then looked to settle things down after the early setback and batted cautiously in the next over. However, after Asif Ali dropped his catch in Hasan Ali’s first over, there was no stopping the hard-hitting opener.

Fakhar then did not look back and stitched a match-defining partnership with Kamran Ghulam, putting his side in complete command to score big.

The pair contributed 122 runs in just 61 deliveries before Mohammad Wasim Jr struck and brought an end to Ghulam’s cautious knock. He scored 41 in 30 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes.

Fakhar then put on another crucial partnership as he accumulated 70 runs for the third wicket with Sam Billings and brought up his second PSL century.

United then had a sigh of relief in the 18th over as right-arm pacer Hasan Ali got the prized wicket of Fakhar; courtesy of a magnificent effort in the deep by Wasim Jr.

Fakhar top-scored for the Qalandars with 115 in 57 balls, smashing eight boundaries and as many sixes.

The Qalandars then jolted with two back-to-back dismissals at the backend as Billings and David Wiese (6) perished in quick successions.

Billings remained the notable run-getter for the Qalandars with his 22-ball 32 which featured two boundaries and two sixes.

Meanwhile, Rashid Khan’s vital cameo in the death overs made sure Qalandars post a massive total on the scoreboard. He scored brisk 15 runs in five deliveries, laced with two boundaries and a six.

Fazalhaq Farooqi led the bowling attack for the United with 3/40 while Hasan and Wasim Jr could pick up a wicket.

RAWALPINDI: Table-toppers Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and elected to bat first against Islamabad United in the 26th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

PLAYING XIs

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Sam Billings, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.

Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 16, Islamabad United 9, Lahore Qalandars 7

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars put on a dominant all-round performance to thrash Islamabad United by a massive 110-run margin to go on top of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight standings.

Set to chase a massive total, the United bundled out for a meagre 90 runs in the 14th over to hand defending champions a dominating 110-run victory that propelled them to the top in the PSL 8 points table.

Earlier in pursuit, United were off to a decent start as their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Colin Munro raised 41 runs for the first wicket before David Wiese dismissed the latter to hand a much-needed breakthrough to the Qalandars.

Munro could score 18 off 14 deliveries with the help of one boundary and a six.

The United then succumbed to another major setback at the brink of the power play when Gurbaz fell victim to Zaman Khan in the sixth over after a brief knock of a 17-ball 23 and top-scored for his side amid their dismal show with the bat.

Gurbaz’s dismissal triggered a match-defining collapse in United’s batting lineup and the visitors, consequently, were bundled out for a paltry 90 runs in the 14th over with Tom Curran offering brief resistance with his gritty 10-run knock.

Wiese led the Qalandars’ ferocious bowling attack with 3/17 while Sikandar Raza and Rashid Khan bagged two wickets each. Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan made one scalp each.

Opting to bat first, the Qalandars’ batters carried on their form as they post their second successive 200-plus total in the ongoing extravaganza.

The home side finished at a massive 200/7 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to significant contributions by the majority of their batting lineup.

Earlier, openers Fakhar Zaman and Tahir Baig scripted a solid start for their side as the duo raised a 58-run partnership before United skipper Shadab Khan dismissed the latter in his first over to get a much-needed breakthrough for his side.

Tahir could score 20 off 17 deliveries, laced up with two boundaries and a six.

Fakhar soon followed his opening partner in the next over as Tom Curran castled the in-form batter to bring United back in the hunt as Qalandars slipped to 62/2 in 7.2 overs. He scored 36 off 23 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six.

Following his dismissal, Abdullah Shafique put on a crucial partnership with Sam Billings and made sure that their side stay on track of amassing a big total as the pair added 71 runs in just 38 deliveries amid their stand before the former fell victim to Tom Curran.

The right-handed batter top-scored for the Qalandars with his sensational 24-ball 45, which featured four boundaries and two sixes.

The hosts then lost three quick wickets in the middle overs as Hussain Talat (6), Sam Billings (33) and David Wiese (12) fell in the space of just 11 deliveries.

The Qalandars, however, soon recovered from the brief collapse as Sikandar Raza and Rashid Khan launched a counterattack on the United bowlers with their brisk 40-run partnership which ended with the latter’s dismissal on the second-last delivery of the innings.

Rashid played a crucial cameo of 18 runs in just 12 balls with the help of two boundaries and a six, while Sikandar struck an unbeaten 10-ball 23, smashing as many boundaries.

Curran led the bowling attack for the United with 3/34, while Shadab followed with 2/34. Hasan Ali and Abrar Ahmed struck out a batter each.

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LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and elected to bat first against Islamabad United in the second eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Alex Hales, Paul Stirling, Will Jacks, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Liam Dawson, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hassan Ali, Waqas Maqsood, Athar Mahmood

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hafeez, Harry Brook, Phil Salt, David Wiese, Samit Patel, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-14, Islamabad United-9, Lahore Qalandars-5
In the last five matches, Qalandars lead the table by 3-2

LAHORE: In the second eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, the re-strengthened Islamabad United will lock horns with the home side Lahore Qalandars to book their final berth against Multan Sultans, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

Two time PSL champions United and the Qalandars will be seeking a win to secure their place in the final of the mega event. The winning side will proceed further in the tournament and will face the defending champions Sultans in the final on February 27. The losing side, however, will be crashed out of the tournament.

United, who were jolted by the injuries and unavailability of their key players have got revamped as their Irish explosive batter Paul Stirling also made his way back to the side after the inclusion of their skipper Shadab Khan and Alex Hales.

With a revamped squad and a stunning victory in the first eliminator against Peshawar Zalmi, the side will be heavily backing itself to taste an important triumph today.

The side once again can rely on their top-order as Hales and Stirling can provide a flying start, while Shadab, Azam Khan, and Faheem Ashraf can hit the ball later in the innings.

In the bowling department too, Shadab is an important asset for the champions, who is currently leading the list of top wicket-takers in this year’s PSL. Fast bowler Hasan Ali can also be proved handy after his astonishing performance in their last outing against Zalmi.

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The Qalandars, on the other hand, which suffered a frustrating defeat against Sultans in the qualifier will be looking to bounce back and seal the final spot.

The home side relies heavily on their in-form opener Fakhar Zaman, who is currently the leading run-scorer of the PSL 7. The Qalandars direly need him to chip in on the big stage since the side lost their way in the run chase against Sultans, following his dismissal.

The Qalandars’ bowling unit, however, is considered as their strength since the home side has the services of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, and Mohammad Hafeez, who has an extraordinary record against the left-handers.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-14, Islamabad United-9, Lahore Qalandars-5