PSL 7: Excitement builds up as two in-form teams lock horns in last group match

LAHORE: Two in-form teams of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7 – Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi, will lock horns today in the last league match, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

The two teams, which have already booked their place in the play-offs of the PSL 7, will be looking to take on each other before the league enters the final stage.

The Qalandars have enjoyed a delightful run throughout the marquee event as the side managed to win six out of their nine matches. The home side also broke the undefeated streak of the table-toppers Multan Sultans, which lost only one out of their 10 matches.

The Qalandars heavily rely on their in-form batter and the leading run-scorer of the PSL 7 – Fakhar Zaman, who is in red-hot form in this year’s mega event. However, Harry Brook’s century in their last match against Islamabad United proved that their middle-order can also chip in quite well.

The side is heavily laced with firepower in the bowling department; having the services of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan. Their leading spinner Rashid Khan, however, has bid farewell to the PSL 7; owing to his national duty.

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Former PSL winners Zalmi, on the other hand, are peaking just at the right time in the PSL 7 after an unpleasant start in the early stages. The team won their last three games, allowing them to climb up to the third place from fifth place and qualify for the play-offs.

Zalmi’s young opening batter Mohammad Haris has been scoring crucial suns for the team for the last few matches now will be a valuable asset for the team. Veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik and Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting have also progressed well in the mega event; scoring valuable runs down the order for the team.

The 2017 champions also have a decent bowling attack – led by the skipper Wahab Riaz himself. Whereas, young pacer – Mohammad Umar has been decent with the ball in his last challenge, while Liam Livingstone and Usman Qadir can also be handy with the ball.

Shadab resumes training, likely to lead Islamabad in playoffs

LAHORE: Shadab Khan recovered from his groin injury and resumed training before all-important playoffs in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7. 

The all-rounder is most likely to lead Islamabad United in the playoffs stage as per the sources. Meanwhile, Zeeshan Zameer failed to recover from a side strain and will miss the knock-out stage.

Pacer Hasan Ali will have to wait for his medical reports before United’s management take decision regarding him.

England’s Will Jacks have completed isolation here and will be available for playoffs.

United are currently at number four position on the points table. They are most likely to meet Peshawar Zalmi in the first PSL 7 Eliminator.

READ: Shadab Khan praises Saqlain Mushtaq on his birthday

WATCH: ‘Different style Bowling’ – Rizwan’s fun amuse PSL fans

LAHORE: Mohammad Rizwan had fun on the field while trying a new way of recreational sport ‘Bowling’ and his fans are enjoying every bit of it. 

In a viral video on the internet, Rizwan tried Bowling between the wickets on a pitch. And, the wicket-keeper batsman successfully pinned the ball and celebrated.

The happy skipper of Multan Sultans has led his team to nine victories in 10 matches of the group stage in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7. His team becomes the first-ever to win nine round matches in a single season.

Sultans are currently at top of the points table with 18 points. They will most probably face second-spot Lahore Qalandars in PSL 7 Qualifier on February 23.

READ: Rizwan stands out for Sultans as they beat United by six wickets

Rizwan stands out for Sultans as they beat United by six wickets

LAHORE: Mohammad Rizwan scored a gritty half-century to help Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by six wickets and strengthen their top position in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7.

Set to chase a paltry 106, the table-toppers have had an unwanted start as the side lost four wickets for a mere 43.

Sultans’ skipper Rizwan alongside David Willey, however, then anchored the run chase with an unbeaten 68-runs partnership. Willey played a sensible knock of 28 runs off 32 balls, while Rizwan top-scored with his magnificent 51 off 42 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and a six off the final delivery of the match.

For the United, Liam Dawson provided a glimmer of hope; taking three quick wickets, while Zahid Mahmood picked up a wicket on his debut for the United.

After opting to bat first, the United batters could only manage to post 105/7 in the allotted 20 overs.

Coming out to bat, the United’s openers  Nasir Nawaz and Mohammad Huraira failed to provide a delightful start to their side as Asif Afridi managed to break the opening pair in the third over and Huraira departed after scoring a mere two.

Following his departure, the side kept losing wickets at an alarming rate and went a little too defensive in the proceedings. None of the United batters could contribute significantly to pull their side out of the danger.

English batter Dawson chipped in a bit with his brief cameo of 22 runs off just 11 balls, while Mohammad Musa, down the order, top-scored for the side with an unbeaten 26 off 21 deliveries; smashing two boundaries and as many sixes.

For the Sultans, Asif and Imran Tahir bagged two wickets each, while Willey, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Tim David struck out a batter each.

Despite a humiliating defeat and having the same number of points as Quetta Gladiators, the United are through to the PSL 7 play-offs, thanks to a better net run rate.

Islamabad United win toss, elect to bat first against Multan Sultans

LAHORE: Islamabad United have won the toss and elected to bat first against Multan Sultans in the 29th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, here on double-header Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

Islamabad United: Asif Ali (c), Nasir Nawaz, Mohammad Huraira, Liam Dawson, Azam Khan, Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Merchant de Lange, Athar Mahmood, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Musa

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Aamer Azmat, Asif Afridi, Rumman Raees, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani,

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-10, Multan Sultans-5, Islamabad United-5

Khurram shines with four as Gladiators manage to beat Kings by 23 runs

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators’ pacer – Khurram Shehzad picked four wickets to help his side beat Karachi Kings by 23 runs in the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, here on Sunday.

Set to chase 167, the Kings fell short of 23 runs; handing a comprehensive victory by 23 runs to the Gladiators.

Kings’ openers – Babar Azam and Joe Clarke provided a solid start to the side; putting on a brilliant 87-runs partnership before Babar walked back to the pavilion in the 11th over. The top-ranked T20I batter scored 36 off 34 deliveries with the help of three boundaries and a six.

Following his departure, Sharjeel Khan joined Clarke in the middle and started to sail the ball all over the park but could not continue for long as he departed after scoring a quickfire 16 off just seven deliveries.

Following Sharjeel’s departure, the side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate as their top-scorer Clarke also perished after scoring 52 off 39 balls; smashing four boundaries and two sixes. As a result, the side finished at 143-8 in the allotted 20 overs.

For the Gladiators, Khurram starred; taking four wickets, while Naseem claimed two. Mohammad Irfan and Ashir Qureshi, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

After opting to bat first against the Kings, the Gladiators finished their first innings at 166-4 in the allotted 20 overs.

Coming out to bat, the Gladiators’ openers Jason Roy and Will Smeed failed to provide a delightful start to their side as Usman Shinwari managed to break the opening pair in the third over as Smeed departed after scoring 10.

With the side at 21-1 in three overs, Roy and James Vince provided an anchored partnership to settle things down for the Gladiators. The pair recorded a brilliant 90-runs partnership but remained a touch slow in the proceedings.

Vince, who was struggling to get going, looked to accelerate his innings but fell short to Lewis Gregory in the 13th over. The right-handed batter could score 29 off 24 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six.

His countryman, Roy on the other hand, kept going and went on to score his half-century while the side soon after lost another wicket as Umar Akmal walked back to the pavilion after scoring a mere two.

Kings’ bowlers then delivered tight bowling in the death overs as Roy and his newly joined partner Iftikhar Ahmed remained unable to go big and bolster the score. In the 19th over, Roy also made his way back to the pavilion after scoring 82 off 64 balls, laced with 11 boundaries, while Iftikhar remained unbeaten with his 21.

For the Kings, Imad Wasim, Mir Hamza, Gregory, and Shinwari bagged one wicket apiece.

Bowlers power Gladiators to beat Kings by 23 runs in PSL 7

Quetta Gladiators have defeated Karachi Kings by 23 runs in the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, here on double-header Sunday.

KK 143-8 (20 overs)

Ashir to bowl the last over

KK 139-7 (19 overs)

18.6: Lovely yorker on middle stump, Lemmonby gets across and tries to play a sweep shot, misses it and the ball hits the stumps

18.5: Good length ball, Gregory goes for a big heave, misses it and the ball hits the leg stump

Khurram comes back

KK 130-5 (18 overs)

17.3: Back of a length, on leg stump, Rohail goes for the pull shot, gets the top edge and Smeed at deep square leg took it with ease.

Naseem continues

KK 126-4 (17 overs)

Irfan comes to bowl his last

KK 121-4 (16 overs)

15.5: Full ball, on middle and leg stump, Qasim flicks it away and it hits the toe of the bat and goes high in the air, Smeed at deep midwicket gets underneath it and took a well-judged catch.

Naseem comes back into the attack

KK 117-3 (15 overs)

Ashir comes back into the attack

KK 109-3 (14 overs)

13.5: Clarke gives himself some room and tries to hit it on the offside, Irfan from round the wicket, pitches fuller in length, swings away from a big, Clarke misses it and the ball hits the middle and off stump.

Irfan comes back into the attack

KK 107-2 (13 overs)

12.4: Good length ball, was not that short, Sharjeel goes for the pull shot, misses it and the ball hits the top of off stump.

Khurram continues

KK 104-1 (12 overs)

Hassan comes again

KK 87-1 (11 overs)

10.5: Good length ball, just outside off, Babar tries to drive away from his body, gets a thick inside edge back onto stumps.

Khurram comes back into the attack

KK 81-0 (10 overs)

Ashir continues

KK 66-0 (9 overs)

Hassan continues

KK 62-0 (8 overs)

Ashir replaces Irfan

KK 58-0 (7 overs)

Hassan comes back

KK 51-0 (6 overs)

Irfan continues

KK 40-0 (5 overs)

Khurram replaces Naseem

KK 31-0 (4 overs)

Irfan replaces Hassan

KK 21-0 (3 overs)

Naseem continues

KK 17-0 (2 overs)

Hassan to bowl from the other end

KK  2-0 (1 over)

Babar, Clarke come out to bat for the Kings, Naseem to bowl the first over

KARACHI KINGS VS QUETTA GLADIATORS (2nd INNINGS)

Quetta Gladiators have posted 166-4 in the first innings of the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7 against Karachi Kings, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

QG 166-4 (20 overs)

Hamza to bowl the last over

QG 156-3 (19 overs)

Shinwari to bowl his last

QG 146-3 (18 overs)

Umaid comes back into the attack

QG 136-3 (17 overs)

Shinwari replaces Umaid

QG 125-3 (16 overs)

Hamza comes back into the attack

QG 119-3 (15 overs)

Umaid comes back

QG 117-3 (14 overs)

13.6: Tossed up, on middle and leg stump, Umar came down the wicket and tried to hit it over long-on, mistimed it and Gregory at long-on took a simple catch.

Imad comes to bowl his last

QG 112-2 (13 overs)

12.5: Angling in, Vince looks to muscle the ball onto the leg side, misses the ball completely and it hits the top of his off-stump. Umar Akmal walks in.

Gregory comes back into the attack

QG 104-1 (12 overs)

Qasim comes in to bowl his first

QG 93-1 (11 overs)

Umaid replaces Gregory

QG 85-1 (10 overs)

Imad continues

QG 70-1 (9 overs)

Gregory continues

QG 60-1 (8 overs)

Imad comes back into the attack

QG 56-1 (7 overs)

Gregory replaces Shinwari

QG 46-1 (6 overs)

Umaid replaces Hamza

QG 41-1 (5 overs)

Shinwari continues

QG 31-1 (4 overs)

Hamza continues

QG 21-1 (3 overs)

2.6: Slower ball, on middle and leg stump, Smeed comes down the wicket and tries to hit it over mid-on, mistimes it and it goes straight in the hands of Gregory.

Shinwari replaces Imad

QG 15-0 (2 overs)

Hamza to bowl from the other end

QG 5-0 (1 over)

Roy, Smeed come out to bat for the Gladiators, Imad to bowl the first over

KARACHI KINGS VS QUETTA GLADIATORS (1st INNINGS)

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators have won the toss and opted to bat first against Karachi Kings in the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), here on double-header Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Jason Roy, Will Smeed, James Vince, Iftikhar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Hassan Khan, Ashir Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Irfan

Karachi Kings: Babar Azam (c), Sharjeel Khan, Joe Clarke, Lewis Gregory, Tom Lammonby, Rohail Nazir, Qasim Akram, Imad Wasim, Umaid Asif, Usman Shinwari, Mir Hamza

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches- 13, Karachi Kings-5, Quetta Gladiators-8, N/R-0

‘Will miss PSL 7, keep supporting LQ’ Rashid Khan

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars’ leg-spinner Rashid Khan will bid farewell to Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7 after playing the last match against Islamabad United today [Saturday].

Before leaving the event, Rashid thanked his fans for all-out support to him and Qalandars. “It’s hard to leave PSL 7 and my fans here. But, I have to go due to my national commitments,” he said.

“I have always enjoyed playing for Qalandars in PSL. It’s like a family for me. My fans here are too supportive and their support makes me stronger,” he added.

Afghanistan’s spinner wished his franchise ‘best of luck’ and hopes that they will win their maiden PSL title this year. “I am leaving but my wishes are for my team. Inshallah, this time we will win PSL,” he concluded.

It must be noted here that Rashid will join Afghanistan’s squad who will play three ODIs and two T20Is against Bangladesh from February 23.

READ: ‘Faulkner will not be drafted in PSL in future’ PCB

Brook’s century remains in spotlight as Qalandars beat United by 66 runs

LAHORE: Hary Brooks scored his maiden T20 century to help Lahore Qalandars roll over the top of Islamabad United by 66 runs in the 27th contest of PSL 7 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Brooks remained in the limelight as he set up Qalandars to defend 198 runs against United.

Deciding to bat first, Qalandars lost three quick wickets but Fakhar Zaman, as usual, supported the sinking ship of his team who reached 197-6 in 20 overs.

This time, the left-handed batter joined hands with Brook who stormed with his powerful century knock in the end. Fakhar smashed 51 runs including four boundaries and a six.

But, Brook was in a different mood this time around. The 22-year-old Englishman remained not out for 102 runs laced with 10 boundaries and five sixes. The young man impressed jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium by smacking the ball all around the park.

For United, Faheem Ashraf bagged three wickets while Zahir Khan and Liam Dawson shared a wicket apiece.

In reply, United were not able to start off things as quickly as they used to do earlier in the tournament. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan, Rashid Khan and Haris Rauf bagged two wickets each to help Qalandars defend their set target.

Liam Dawson (31) and Danish Aziz (30*) resisted for United but due to a big target on the scoreboard, their effort wasn’t enough. Danish struck four boundaries while Dawson smashed four boundaries and a six.

‘Our PSL payments never got late’ Afridi defends PCB

KARACHI: Star all-rounder Shahid Khan Afridi came in defense of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against James Faulkner’s late payment allegations on Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7’s management. 

Taking to Twitter, Afridi said Faulkner made ‘baseless allegations’ and tried to taint Pakistan’s brand.

“Disappointed with James Faulkner comments who reciprocated Pakistan’s hospitality & arrangements by leveling baseless allegations. We all have been treated with respect & never ever our payments have been delayed. No one should be allowed to taint Pakistan, Pakistan cricket, and the HBL PSL brand,” he wrote.

On early Saturday, Faulkner left for Australia citing late payments by the PSL 7 management. The Australian cricketer was due to complete the whole season for Quetta Gladiators. He reportedly destroyed the hotel’s property and also misbehaved with the airport staff before leaving.

Taking action against the cricketer, PCB banned him from future PSL events.

READ: PCB’s detailed response to Faulkner’s allegations