The Qalandars were set a target of 172 runs to chase, and they managed to achieve it in 18.5 overs, thanks to a solid team effort. Although the match was not as nail-biting as some previous PSL games, it was still an exciting contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The Qalandars lost opener Fakhar Zaman early, who was castled by Azmatullah Omarzai while trying to hit a big shot. Ahsan Bhatti, who was playing his first PSL match, also departed soon after, handing a simple catch to wicketkeeper Haseebullah off Wahab Riaz’s bowling. He scored 15 runs off 10 balls.

Abdullah Shafique also fell for 10 runs, thanks to a big mix-up between him and Mirza Tahir Baig. However, Tahir and Sam Billings got the Qalandars back on track with a crucial 50-run partnership in only 28 balls.

Tahir reached his maiden T20 fifty before being dismissed by Aamer Jamal, scoring 54 runs off 42 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes. Billings was clean bowled by Salman Irshad for 28 runs in 21 balls, while Sikandar Raza scored 22 runs off 13 balls.

Shaheen Afridi hit a six and a four in the 19th over to secure the win for his team.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi scored 171-5 in their 20 overs, with opener Saim Ayub losing his wicket early to Zaman Khan. Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris then added 89 runs in 60 balls for the second wicket to put Zalmi in control of the match.

However, Rashid Khan claimed two wickets in the same over to send Babar (42 off 36) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (0) back to the pavilion. Despite the setback, Haris kept playing shots with ease and went on to score 85 runs in 54 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes.

Shaheen Afridi was expensive with the ball, conceding 41 runs in four overs, but he sent Haris back to the pavilion on the final delivery of his spell. Zaman Khan was the pick of the bowlers for the Qalandars with figures of 2-20 in three overs.

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Two last overs.

Two youngsters.

Both youngsters saving the day for the captain.

This is the story of PSL 8 so far.

It was a bit of a question mark why Shaheen Afridi chose Zaman for the last over yesterday and Babar put the same responsibility on Khurram Shahzad’s shoulders. One can imagine Afridi might still not be hundred percent and Wahab may not be Babar’s preferred choice after the #iftimania attack. Having said that if any of the youngsters had failed, it would have opened up a pandora’s box for the two captains. In the end all went well as both youngsters saved the runs giving their teams the much needed boost.

Zaman yesterday and Khurram Shahzad today not only have saved a match but probably saved the much needed spirit for their respective franchises.

The second match of the PSL 2023 saw a thrilling encounter between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings. Chasing a massive total of 199/5 set by Zalmi, Kings got off to a great start courtesy of some lusty blows from Matthew Wade, but soon found themselves in a big hole at 46 for 4 just after the Powerplay. However, Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik took the responsibility and steadied the ship by pacing their innings beautifully. They added 129 runs for the fifth wicket and took the game close, but just fell short by two runs in the end.

It all came down to the last over. With 16 runs needed to win, despite being below-par on the field and dropping crucial chances, Zalmi’s Khurram Shahzad kept his calm and bowled a match-winning over, taking his side over the line by just two runs.

James Neesham was the pick of the bowlers for Zalmi, with two wickets while not giving away many runs, while Wahab Riaz and Salman Irshad also got a couple of wickets each. Zalmi will not be happy with their bowling effort, but will be relieved to start their campaign on a positive note.

Two last over dramas in tow days have showcased PSL’s ability to produce thrilling cricket for the fans. It seems the franchises are also balanced this year and we are in for much more tighter contests. With two thrilling matches already in the bag, the fans will be expecting more such matches to get their money’s worth.

The post Another day, Another last over drama as Peshawar beat Karachi by 2 runs appeared first on CricDen.

Put into bat, Lahore Qalandars managed to post a decent target of 176 runs on the scoreboard, thanks to a brilliant innings by Fakhar Zaman, who scored 66 runs off 42 balls and completed his 2000 runs in the PSL. Young opener Mirza Tahir Baig also put in a good performance, scoring 36 runs off 26 balls before being dismissed by Akeal Hossain.

Watch the highlights here

In reply, Multan Sultans got off to a flying start with their openers, Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood, putting up a 100-run partnership for the first wicket. Rizwan scored his 13th fifty of the PSL with a brilliant innings of 75 runs in 50 balls. Masood also put in a good performance, scoring 35 runs in 31 balls before being sent back to the pavilion by Hussain Talat.

However, the Qalandars fought back through their ace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled Rizwan, and Haris Rauf, who dismissed South Africa’s power-hitter David Miller. The left-arm pacer bowled a fiery yorker to clean up Miller after he scored 25 runs. The Qalandars also managed to take out Kieron Pollard, who was caught trying to run for two.

In the end, Multan needed 15 runs in the last over, which was given to young Zaman Khan. Zaman came off age and pulled off a brilliant win for his team in tense last over drama. Zaman kept the big boundaries until the second last ball where Khushdil nhit him for a 4 needing a 6 on the last ball to secure a win for Multan. However, Khushdil could only manage to hit a 4 off the last bowl leaving Multan 1 runs behind the Lahore Qalandars total.

The post Lahore ends Multan's unbeaten stint at home in a nail biting encounter appeared first on CricDen.

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Toss

Peshawar Zalmi Power play 1st Innings

Pure Class – Babar Azam Innings

Lofty hitting by Tom Kohler Cadmore

2nd Innings Powerplay

Shoaib and Imad save Karachi from embarrassment

Match Interviews

The post Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi Match Highlights appeared first on CricDen.

In response, Kings also had a rocky start, losing three wickets for 35 runs in the powerplay and then 76 for 5 in the 11th over. However, Shoaib Malik and Irfan Khan gave them hope by adding 86 runs for the sixth wicket. But the chase fell apart as the required run-rate shot up and Quetta’s Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain strangled them. Kings needed 24 runs off the last over, but Odean Smith conceded only 17, securing a six-run win for the visitors.

Imad Wasim led the Kings’ attack, taking three crucial wickets in his first nine balls, and Gladiators’ Jason Roy, Abdul Bangalzai, and Umar Akmal fell early. Guptill was tied down by the early losses but found a steady partner in Iftikhar Ahmed, and the duo rotated the strike, keeping the innings afloat. Although Iftikhar’s wicket in the 15th over was a setback, Guptill continued to attack and reached his fifty.

Guptill was dropped on 61 by Sharjeel Khan, and he made the Kings pay for that mistake. In the 19th over, he plundered 30 runs off Andrew Tye with the help of three sixes and as many fours. James Vince gave Kings a brisk start with his 22 runs off 14 balls, but early wickets put them on the back foot. In the 11th over, Hasnain removed Matthew Wade and Imad Wasim, denting the Kings’ chase further. Malik and Irfan fought hard, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.

The post Guptill century help Quetta overpower Karachi in close encounter appeared first on CricDen.

Ihsanullah on fire

We must start with the highlights of the fiery spell delivered today by Ihsanullah. Watch him hurry the batsman in the clips below:

Toss

Short Match Highlights

Match Interviews

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