Tag: PSL

LAHORE: Veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard’s blistering half-century recovered Multan Sultans to 160/5 before bowlers powered Multan Sultans into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight final with a dominant victory over Lahore Qalandars.

Set to chase a modest 161 to seal the final berth, the Qalandars’ batting lineup failed completely and was bundled out for a meagre 76 in the 15th over.

The hosts had a dismal start to their run chase as Sultans’ pacers Sheldon Cottrell and Anwar Ali ripped through their top order, causing them to slip to 19/3 in the fourth over with in-form batters Abdullah Shafique (0) and Fakhar Zaman (6) also perishing cheaply.

Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi promoted himself in the batting order again but the move did not pay off this time around as he too fell victim to red-hot Cottrell inside the powerplay for a two-ball duck.

Following the slump, Hussain Talat and Sam Billings looked to settle things down with a gritty 13-run partnership for the fifth wicket before a casual effort while running between the wickets brought an end to the former’s 10-ball four and added further to the misery of defending champions.

The home side then continued to lose wickets at an alarming rate and soon bundled out for a skimpy total to hand Sultans a resounding 84-run victory and a spot in the final of the extravaganza.

Billings (19) top-scored for Qalandars amid a dismal show while Haris Rauf (15) and David Wiese (12) remained the other notable run-getters as the rest could not even get into the double-figures.

Cottrell led the bowling attack for the Sultans with 3/20, followed by Usama Mir’s 2/12, while Anwar Ali, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah and Pollard struck out a batter each.

Opting to bat first, the Sultans managed to post 160/5 in their quota of 20 overs at the back of a brilliant 57-run knock by Pollard.

Earlier, the Sultans were off to a cautious start as their in-form opening pair of skipper Mohammad Rizwan and fastest PSL centurion Usman Khan could accumulate 53 runs before Haris Rauf castled the latter in the eighth over.

Usman could score 29 off 28 deliveries and hit four boundaries.

The strong bowling unit of Qalandars then pushed the visitors to the backfoot with calculated bowling, restricting them to 70/1 halfway through.

Young pacer Zaman Khan then drew a second breakthrough for the Qalandars as he dismissed dangerous Rilee Rossouw (13 off 12) on the first delivery of the 11th over and further dented the Sultans’ march for a big total.

Meanwhile, skipper Rizwan, who was hanging around with his gritty knock also fell short after stitching a 20-run partnership for the third wicket with Pollard. He managed to score 33 in 29 balls with the help of three boundaries.

With their struggling at 90/3 in 13 overs, Pollard brought his experience into play and put on a match-defining 65-run partnership with Tim David and ignited the flow of runs for the visitors.

The vital stand pulled Sultans out of heaps of trouble with Pollard leading the charge before falling in the final over. He top-scored for his side with a 34-ball 57, featuring a boundary and six sixes.

David, who out of his character, held his ground firm amid Pollard’s carnage, remained unbeaten with a 22-run cameo off 15 balls, smashing one boundary and a six.

Haris led the bowling attack for the Qalandars with 3/34 while Rashid Khan and Zaman made one scalp each.

LAHORE: Multan Sultans have won the toss and elected to bat first against home side Lahore Qalandars in the first qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

PLAYING XIs

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

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Usman Khan, Rilee Rossouw, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell, Ihsanullah.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 15, Lahore Qalandars 8, Multan Sultans 7

KARACHI: Karachi Kings’ young right-handed batter Tayyab Tahir expressed his pleasure for the opportunity to share the dressing room with ‘great players’ amid his stint with the former champions in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight.

Tayyab, who represented the Kings in PSL 8, termed it as a great experience after his side bowed out from the tournament on a winning note.

Taking to Twitter, the top order batter also expressed his pleasure in sharing the dressing room with some great players and stated that the Kings will try to make a strong comeback.

“Well it’s been great feeling to part of [Karachi Kings],” wrote Tayyab. “And feel blessed to sharing dressing room with great players and Thank you so much for this experience,” he added.

“We will try to come harder next year inshAllah.”

Well it’s been great feeling to part of @KarachiKingsARY #HBLPSL8
And feel blessed to sharing dressing room with great players and Thank you so much for this experience.
We will try to come harder next year inshAllah pic.twitter.com/lodZi1STED

— Tayyab Tahir (@imtayyabtahir) March 13, 2023

 

Tayyab represented the Kings in five matches this season. He scored 137 runs at an average of 27.4 and smashed two brilliant half-centuries.

Meanwhile, another emerging cricketer Muhammad Irfan Khan, who impressed with his batting and fielding skills in PSL 8, also expressed his gratitude for concluding the tournament on a winning note and is determined that his side will bounce back in the next edition.

“Alhamdulillah ended the tournament on a high note. Unfortunately couldn’t qualify for the playoffs,” wrote Irfan.

“Thank you everyone for your immense support, we will bounce back next year IN SHA ALLAH,” he added.

Alhamdulillah ended the tournament on a high note. Unfortunately couldn’t qualify for the playoffs…
Thank you everyone for your immense support, we will bounce back next year IN SHA ALLAH! 👊🏻💙@KarachiKingsARY @thePSLt20 #psl #kkfamily pic.twitter.com/M66srR42ef

— Muhammad Irfan Khan (@mirfankhan_75) March 13, 2023

 

It is worth mentioning that notable contributions by debutant opener Muhammad Akhlaq and skipper Imad Wasim guided the Kings to a massive total of 196/7 before bowlers led the side to a crushing 86-run victory over Lahore Qalandars.

The dominating victory over Qalandars in their final PSL 8 fixture lifted the Kings to finish in fifth spot as they concluded the extravaganza with six points in 10 matches.

READ: Sethi clarifies decision of resting key players including captain Babar 

LAHORE: Experienced leg-spinner Imran Tahir was glad that his side Karachi Kings finished their Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight campaign on a winning note after a resounding 86-run victory over table-toppers Lahore Qalandars.

Imran was once again clinical with his bowling performance as he took two wickets for 24 runs against home side Qalandars and played a pivotal role in dismantling their batting order while defending a massive total of 197.

The experienced leg-spinner in an interview briefly after the conclusion of his side’s final PSL 8 fixture, expressed his delight in finishing the tournament on a winning note as the Kings ‘badly needed’ it.

“Yeah look it’s always nice to finish like this when you obviously had a tough campaign. I think we badly needed it, to be very honest with you. We are very glad to finish on a good note,” said Imran.

Imran then went on to assert that the ongoing edition of the PSL has been very tough for the bowlers as the conditions on offer in most of the venues barely supported them.

“If I look at all PSL, I think people need to think about it, it’s been tough for the bowlers. As you see all over Pakistan, in Karachi we had tough conditions – a bit dew – and even in Pindi, it’s been very tough wickets for spinners to bowl,” complained Imran.

“But, it’s been a great experience, I won’t say it was my favourite PSL this year for me personally. Yeah, from the team’s point of view, I think we wanted to finish the way we finished today,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that a resounding 86-run victory over the leaders Qalandars, lifted the Kings to finish this year’s extravaganza fifth with six points in 10 matches.

LAHORE: Karachi Kings’ skipper Imad Wasim, who was phenomenal with his all-round performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight stated on Sunday that he would have been happier if his team had advanced into the playoffs.

Imad, during an interview in Pitch Side after Karachi Kings’ resounding 86-run victory over Lahore Qalandars, responded to a question regarding his brilliant individual performance and stated that it did not mean much to the all-rounder.

“Look, we are paid professionals so it is our job to perform but I don’t rate individual performances much. If our team had qualified [for the playoffs] or played the final then it would be nice,” shared Imad.

“I personally think if you perform so much and yet your team does not go through then to me such performances are not beneficial. People think I played really well so yes, I did, but winning it for your team is a different thing and I’m more disappointed about that,” he continued.

The Kings’ skipper then reflected upon his team’s journey in this year’s PSL and reiterated close defeats and struggle in death bowling as the main rationales behind their shortcoming.

“As many matches we played, were all close ones, if the results were opposite, we would be second but it did not happen. We played good cricket throughout the tournament but we made some mistakes and it cost us and that’s what happens in T20 cricket,” said Imad.

“We faced difficulty in death bowling in the tournament. I think it cost us the entire season. So, it is very important. What I feel personally is that our team batted really well and everyone played with decent strike rates but again death bowling cost us,” he maintained.

Imad then pointed out the positives from his team’s progress in PSL 8 and termed the emergence of their youngsters – Qasim Akram and Irfan Khan Niazi – stood out for the team.

“I think, the way Irfan Khan Niazi came to the limelight is not easy for an emerging player. Our team’s prime goal is to play and win the playoff and the second is to give talented players to our country, who can serve the national team in future. I think Irfan Niazi and Qasim [Akram] have a lot of time to play cricket,” stated Imad.

“Secondly, the way Akhlaq played, how brilliant was when he got the chance. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t get the chance earlier since we had James Vince and Matthew Wade.

“So, such things often happen that you make chop and change but those who are your main players, you try to trust them and we did exactly that. Moreover, we do not have any regrets but yes we are saddened that we couldn’t advance in the tournament,” Imad concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that after Akhlaq and Imad’s brilliance propelled the Kings to 196/7 the Kings’ bowlers crushed the Qalandars’ batting unit to script a resounding 86-run victory.

The dominating victory over Qalandars in their final PSL 8 fixture lifted the Kings to finish in fifth spot as they finished with six points in 10 matches.

READ: Kings’ Akhlaq ‘pleased’ with his match-winning knock against Qalandars

LAHORE: Karachi Kings’ debutant right-handed opener Muhammad Akhlaq was pleased with his match-winning half-century knock against Lahore Qalandars in the last group fixture of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

Akhlaq, who was adjudged the player of the match for his magnificent 51 which powered the Kings to a competitive total, interacted with the media and expressed his satisfaction with his brilliant performance.

“I’m thankful to Almighty Allah for granting me respect in my debut match. I felt really good to play for Karachi Kings,” said Akhlaq.

“I’ve played for Islamabad [United] and Karachi [Kings] and enjoyed my time being in both sides and also learn a lot. But in Karachi [Kings], the Almighty Allah granted with respect,” he maintained.

The right-handed batter then commented on the Kings’ campaign in the PSL 8 and asserted that few close losses and below-par death bowling dented their march to the playoffs.

“Our team was outstanding but we’ve been unlucky in this tournament as we lost most of the matches by close margins. So, I think it was just bad luck. Things were going well but we couldn’t get satisfactory results in the end,” Akhlaq said.

“The prime reason behind our defeats was that we were struggling in the death bowling, we couldn’t bowl well in the last five overs of the innings,” he added.

It is worth mentioning that after Akhlaq propelled the Kings to 196/7 the Kings’ bowlers crushed the Qalandars’ batting unit to script a resounding 86-run victory.

The dominating victory over Qalandars in their final PSL 8 fixture lifted the Kings to finish in fifth spot as they finished with six points in 10 matches.

READ: Akhlaq, bowlers power Karachi Kings to thrash Lahore Qalandars

LAHORE: Karachi Kings’ head coach Johan Botha summed up his team’s campaign in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight and termed skipper Imad Wasim’s red-hot form as one of the positives for the former champions.

Head coach Botha, in an interview on the sidelines of the Kings’ final PSL 8 fixture against home side Lahore Qalandars, pragmatically highlighted the shortcomings and positives for the Kings before praising skipper Imad for his brilliance with the bat throughout the season.

“I think Imad batted well as I’ve ever seen him bat. So, he’s obviously had a purple patch in the tournament and in the batting point of view, he has been outstanding,” said Botha.

The Kings’ head coach then mentioned other key performers for his side in the PSL 8 and highly rated the significant contributions of James Vince, Mohammad Amir and Irfan Khan Niazi.

“James Vince for short period was excellent. I think Niazi for an emerging player, put his name out there. He’s a really talented player, an excellent fielder and he’s shown little glimpses,” shared Botha.

“Amir was bit with niggles, hot and cold but you can never question his commitment to the team. He was excellent whenever he was on the field. So hopefully, in the future, we can have him 100 per cent fit for all 10 games. He’s still a star performer,” he maintained.

Kings’ coach Botha then went on to assert that some close losses hurt the team’s campaign in the ongoing season and barred them from qualifying for the playoffs.

“We obviously had a couple of close losses and that’s gonna hurt you someway along the line. We lost three games with single figures and we lost another two games [by a close margin],” stated Botha.

“It’s been that close but at the end of the day that doesn’t get written at the end of the tournament and unfortunately we’re one of the teams that won’t be making it to the playoffs,” he concluded.

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RAWALPINDI: Usman Khan struck the fastest century of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) before Abbas Afridi’s five-wicket haul powered nervy Multan Sultans to edge Quetta Gladiators and put their playoff expedition to rest.

The Gladiators had a mountain to climb to stay alive in the tournament as the former champions needed to pull off the highest-ever run chase but eventually fell just nine runs short as they could accumulate 253/8 in 20 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz-led Gladiators were off to an unwanted start to pursuit as the side lost their last match hero Jason Roy (6) in just the second over with only 14 runs on the scoreboard.

Following an early setback, Martin Guptill and Omair Bin Yousuf kept the Gladiators in the hunt as they stitched a crucial 46-run partnership for the second wicket and almost kept up with the required run rate.

The pair looked to have settled down before Ihsanullah provided a much-needed breakthrough to Sultans as he removed Guptill, who scored a quick 14-ball 37 including two boundaries and four sixes.

The Gladiators were then jolted with another blow as Abbas removed Mohammad Hafeez (1) in the sixth over.

With the side struggling at 68/3 inside the powerplay, Iftikhar Ahmed joined young Omair in the middle and anchored the run chase with a 104-run partnership for the fourth wicket with scoring quick half-centuries.

Iftikhar, however, failed to stretch his knock as he fell to Abbas briefly after raising his bat, while Omair followed him in the next over, resulting in the Gladiators slipping to 178/5 in the 16th over.

Iftikhar struck 53 in 31 balls with the help of four boundaries and as many sixes, while Omair top-scored for the Gladiators with a 36-ball 67, featuring seven boundaries and three sixes.

Gladiators’ skipper Nawaz and wicketkeeper batter Umar Akmal kept their side in the hunt with a brisk 30-run partnership before Abbas struck twice in two deliveries to dismiss Nawaz (16 off seven) and Umaid Asif (0) and scripted Sultans’ comeback in the run chase.

Despite six wickets down, the Gladiators were still in the race at the back of Akmal’s cameo who was turning it on for his side with belligerent but Abbas struck on the first delivery of his next over to cut his fireworks short and completed his maiden PSL hat-trick.

Akmal smashed a 10-ball 28, hitting two boundaries and three sixes.

Following Akmal’s dismissal tailenders Naveen-ul-Haq and Qais Ahmed struck a seven-ball 17 each at the death but their cameos eventually turned out insufficient for the Gladiators to prevail.

Abbas led the bowling attack for the Sultans with 5/47 while Ihsanullah followed with two wickets. Anwar Ali, on the other hand, made one scalp.

Put into bat first, the Sultans made full use of the ideal batting conditions on offer at the Pindi Cricket Stadium here and accumulated 262/3 – the highest total in PSL – at the back of a scintillating century by Usman.

The new opening pair of Sultans – Usman and Mohammad Rizwan – charged the Gladiators’ bowlers right from the start as the pair took their side to 91/0 after the end of the first powerplay with Usman leading the baton charge.

The right-handed young batter was ruthless against his former franchise so much so that he overshadowed Rizwan, who was scoring at around 200 striker rate.

Usman kept on dominating the bowlers and struck the fastest century of PSL in 36 balls, breaking his teammate Rilee Rossouw’s record, who achieved the milestone in 41 deliveries.

His belligerent hitting soon took the Sultans past 150 at the halfway mark and thus, they were looking comfortable to become the first side to breach the 300-run mark in T20s.

Gladiators’ stand-in captain Mohammad Nawaz, finally found the breakthrough for his side as he got the dangerous Usman stumped on the first delivery of the 11th over.

Usman remained the top-scorer for the Sultans as he scored a quickfire 120 in mere 43 deliveries, laced up with 12 boundaries and nine sixes.

Following his dismissal, Sultans’ captain Rizwan looked to maintain their dominance over Gladiators and stitched a brief 30-run partnership with Rossouw, who perished cheaply for a nine-ball 15.

Rizwan then switched gears and led the attack from the front and soon brought up his half-century amid his third-wicket partnership with Tim David before Qais Ahmed got rid of him in the 15th over.

He scored a brisk 55 off 29 balls, smashing six boundaries and two sixes.

Kieron Pollard and David then made sure the Sultans did not lose their towards a massive total as the pair stitched an unbeaten 58-run stand at the backend.

David remained unbeaten with a 25-ball 43 which featured one boundary and four sixes, while Pollard scored 23 off 14.

For the Gladiators, Qais picked up two wickets while Nawaz could bag one.

RAWALPINDI: Quetta Gladiators have won the toss and opted to bowl first against Multan Sultans in the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight on Saturday.

PLAYING XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz (c), Martin Guptill, Jason Roy, Omair Bin Yousaf, Mohammad Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, Umar Akmal (wk), Qais Ahmed, Umaid Asif, Naveen-ul-Haq, Aimal Khan.

MULTAN SULTANS: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Usman Khan, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Izharulhaq Naveed, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah.

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 10, Multan Sultans 6, Quetta Gladiators 4

RAWALPINDI: The 2019 Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Quetta Gladiators are still in contention to qualify for the playoff of the ongoing eighth edition.

The Gladiators, firstly need to beat Multan Sultans by a big margin in their last group fixture to stay alive in the tournament with eight points in 10 matches.

They would then also want Islamabad United to beat Peshawar Zalmi by a hefty margin on Sunday to qualify for the final four.

The Gladiators need a swing of approximately 100 runs in their favour from the aforementioned games.

However, a defeat in their final fixture would result in their exit from the tournament and Peshawar Zalmi will automatically qualify for the playoff.

Meanwhile, Zalmi can qualify for the playoffs even if they lose by a close margin.

Quetta Gladiators need to win by ~81 runs to take their NRR above Peshawar Zalmi. But Peshawar Zalmi can qualify even if they lose (vs Islamabad United) by a close margin (~10 runs). So, Quetta need a swing of approximately 100 runs in their favour from these two games.

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 10, 2023

 

It is pertinent to mention that the Gladiators are currently at the fifth spot in the PSL 8 standings with six points in nine matches, while Zalmi are fourth with eight points in as many matches.

Defending champions Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United and Sultans have already booked their spots in the playoffs.

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