FANTASY
Follow UsThe eighth encounter in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 will see Peshawar Zalmi take on Quetta Gladiators at Karachi’s National Stadium. These are early days in the tournament but it is already a crucial game for Quetta who have lost both their games so far and currently sit at the bottom of the points table by the virtue of a poorer net run-rate to Multan Sultans. Peshawar, on the other hand, have one victory in their two games to take the fourth spot.
There isn’t a lot to separate the two sides in terms of their head to head record. Over the last two seasons, however, Peshawar have defeated Quetta only twice in six games. Both those wins came in the 2020 season while Quetta beat Peshawar four times in 2019.
PSL HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall: Matches – 16 | Quetta – 8 Wins | Peshawar - 7 Wins
Since 2019: Matches – 6 | Quetta – 4 Wins | Peshawar - 2 Wins
Ground details, conditions and team combination
The six matches thus far at the National Stadium this PSL season have seen the side batting second win every time - be it a moderate target of 140 or a formidable run-chase in excess of 190. The bowlers have struck once every 32.6 runs at an interval of 23 deliveries per dismissal at an economy rate of 8.5.
At the start of the season, spinners had picked only 0.8 wickets per innings at this venue in T20s since 2020. The conditions has not improved for the spinners much. They have accounted for only 11 out of the 52 wickets in the season as yet. Hence, we suggest a batting heavy side and bowling attack comprised of pace bowlers.
Suggested Team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms we come up with six different teams that could fetch crucial points.
Captain Selection
Tom Kohler-Cadmore is a left field choice to be the captain of your Fantasy side but has been in form for quite a while. He did well in the recently concluded T10 league and showcased his form further when he struck 53 off 32 balls against Multan in Match 5. He is comfortable against both spin and pace as he averages over 25 with a strike-rate in excess of 130 against both styles of bowling. His average against spin is in fact 37.3. He will also be batting at number three which provides him apt time to create a positive impact on your fantasy fortunes.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Cadmore could score 16-39 runs in this match.
X-Factors
Ben Cutting loves facing pace and on a pitch which doesn’t have much on offer for the tweakers, he becomes a dangerous batsman. Cutting strikes at 170.9 against pacers as compared to 111 against spin. He is yet to fire this season but with the average scores bloating up, he can come in handy for your side. He has also bowled quite a bit which gives you an added advantage.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Cutting could score 6-15 runs and pick 0-1 wicket in this match.
Brushing his low returns in the Test series in Pakistan aside, Faf du Plessis has been in a rich vein of T20 form for quite a bit. Du Plessis has averaged above 35 for three years in a row since 2018 while maintaining a healthy strike-rate. Slotted into the Quetta squad as a partial replacement for Chris Gayle who has departed to fulfil national duties, du Plessis is done with his quarantine and is likely to play against Peshawar. Given his experience, form and a batting position in top three, he can also be the vice-captain of your side.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts du Plessis could score 13-30 runs in this match.
The third highest run-scorer in T20 cricket, Shoaib Malik has not had much batting to do thus far but has still left some impression in both games. In a low-scoring season opener for Peshawar, Malik contributed 24. In the second game, he scored an unbeaten 11 off 5 balls which included a flat six over long-on, more or less giving the signs of the good things which can come off his bat in the upcoming games.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Malik could score 12-29 runs in this match.
