PSL WEEKLY WRAP
Follow UsTwo of Pakistan’s modern greats, Mohammad Rizwan, skipper of Multan Sultan and Babar Azam, skipper of Karachi Kings collided in the curtain-raiser of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Defending champs Multan started their title defense with an easy win over Karachi and there on they have been unstoppable. With four wins in four matches, they are sitting pretty at the top with eight points. Whereas, the rest of the teams have lost at least one match.
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, both have two wins in three matches and are tied with four points. However, Islamabad has a stunning net run rate of +1.194 as compared to Lahore’s +0.557. On the other hand, Babar’s men, in three matches, are still to get off the mark. They are languishing at the bottom with zero points and a net run rate of -0.998.
In 10 matches played (as of February 3), most of them have been high-scoring encounters. Out of the 20 innings played, 14 of those have seen a total of 170+ being scored. However, there have been two five-wicket hauls as well. Let’s look at some of the moments from the seventh edition so far:
ICC Cricketer of the year vs T20I cricketer of the year
The first match of the seventh edition was between two of Pakistan’s current best batsmen, Rizwan and Babar. In any case, the battle lacked the spice as Rizwan outshone Babar. In the third match, the contest was between the ICC T20I cricketer of the year, Rizwan and ICC Cricketer of the year, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
After setting a target of 207, Shaheen’s men were treated with a batting masterclass from Shan Masood and Rizwan as they forged a 150-run partnership. Talking about the contest, Rizwan clubbed two sixes and one four and had a strike rate of 225 against Shaheen before he had the last laugh as he dismissed Rizwan for a well-constructed 69.
Interestingly, in this match, on the back of the 150-run opening partnership, Multan created history by chasing a target of 207. Previously, the highest target chased in PSL was by Quetta Gladiators against Lahore in 2016. Needing 16 runs off the last over to win, Khushdil Shah clubbed Haris Rauf for three fours off the first three balls and as icing on the cake, he finished it off with a six off the fourth ball.
Tom Lammonby grabs a stunner
In the fourth match, Karachi were bundled out for a paltry total of 113 in 17.3 overs against Quetta. Naseem Shah was the wrecker-in-chief with a five-wicket haul (5/20), the first of the season. In reply, at 76 for no loss at the end of 11th over, Quetta had almost won the contest.
Despite the dead-rubber situation, Tom Lammonby of Karachi didn’t let his shoulder down. In the second ball of the 12th over, running in front, took a low stunning catch to dismiss Will Smeed and end a 76-run partnership.
Cricketer of the year, Meh! Sharjeel doesn’t care
In the sixth match, when everyone thought that the battle between Shaheen and Babar, Sharjeel Khan had other intentions
Following a wide off the first ball, Sharjeel timed the first legitimate ball of the match against Shaheen to perfection towards the square point boundary. He then finished the over off with two more boundaries. He smashed three boundaries in the first over of the match against Shaheen. “Cricketer of the year! I don’t care”.
Zaman registers the first ton of PSL-7
In the same match in which Sharjeel smashed three boundaries to Shaheen, Karachi scored 170/7 riding on the back of Sharjeel’s 60 off 39 balls. His opening partner, Babar put on a stand of 84 for the first wicket.
But, all the efforts were washed out by a Zaman special. Chasing a big total, Zaman alone scored 106 out of 174 scored by Lahore, which is 60.9 percent of the runs. The next highest run-scorer was Samit Patel with an unbeaten 26. His 106 off 60 balls was the first ton of PSL-7 and his first in overall PSL.
When luck doesn’t go your way
Rizwan and Massod have been a very successful opening pair in this season so far. In match eight, Rizwan was dismissed in a fashion no cricketer would expect.
In the fifth over, Masood on strike against Mohammad Wasim drilled a low full toss straight back at the bowler. Unfortunately, Rizwan who had walked forward after the release of the ball had no time to react back as the ball ricocheted off Wasim's hand onto the stumps, ending his innings of 12 in one of the unluckiest ways.
Later, Shoaib Maqsood was also dismissed through a run-out, but this time it wasn’t luck, it was just outstanding fielding by Asif Ali at deep mid-wicket.
Running to his right, Asif dived to stop a boundary first and then he was quick to recover from his dive and throw the ball towards the striker’s end. Rilee Rossouw was caught off the ball and grounded at the non-striker's end. Maqsood halfway down the ground was sold out by his partner. Nevertheless, the fielding created confusion.
Well! That’s a new celebration
Celebration is an art in T20 cricket and West Indian players are the artists. Dwayne Bravo’s dance, Sheldon Cottrell’s salute, Daren Sammy’s baby or Kesrick Williams ticking off after dismissing a batsman.
However, South Africans aren’t bad either. Imran Tahir’s dash towards the crowd after a wicket and not to forget the leader of celebrations, Tabraiz Shamsi. The bus driver, boot phone call and the magic stick are a few of his trademark celebrations. In any case, Rilee Rossouw with his new celebration after his fifty in the match against Islamabad United has started a new trend, probably!
