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PSL 2021 | LHQ VS QTG: Usman Shinwari, Khurram Shahzad keep Quetta Playoffs hopes alive

It took an inspiring performance from the Quetta Gladiators bowlers, Usman Shinwari and Khurram Shahzad in particular to get the team off the losing train and finally get a win, only their second of the season in eight matches. Shinwari, playing his first game in the Abu Dhabi leg of the tournament was particularly impressive at the start, removing key players like Qlanadras skipper Sohail Akhtar and experienced Mohammad Hafeez.

Shahzad was right on the money as well as the Quetta players didn’t let the Qlanadars at any moment feel during the chase that they were in it. Chasing a modest target of 159, the Qlanadars didn’t get off to a good. After having lost their score in the very first over, they lost the other opener, Fakhar Zaman, soon as well. He was played on at a Shahzad delivery in the third over. 

Post Zaman, Hafeez, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ben Dunk, Rashid Khan and Ahmed Daniyal were removed too. Losing six wickets in just 43 runs gave a feeling of Déjà vu for Qalandars all over again from their previous encounter against Multan Sultans where they lost seven wickets for 30 odd runs. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, Shahzad and Hasnain shared the scalps among themselves. 

Tim David with a few lusty blows and some support from James Faulkner tried to restore some semblance into the chase, but a fast length ball by Shinwari, which went away from David got his blade’s outside edge and Quetta skipper Sarfaraz didn’t make a mistake grabbing them. It was Shinwari's third wicket of the day and he could have had four had Sarafaraz not dropped Dunk off him. Nevertheless, the left-arm speedster was adjudged Man of the Match for his performance. 

At 105-8, it seemed all over till tailenders Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf decided to swing the willow hard and fast. In fact, at one point in time, when Haris hit Hasnain for 18 in the 18th over with Qlanadars just needing 19 off 13 remaining balls, Gladaitaors supporters had their hearts in their mouth because they in the past have witnessed their team losing from commanding positions. However, it was one shot too many for Haris as Hasnain uprooted his middle stump on the last ball of his over to finish the proceedings. 

Reacting to the second loss in a similar fashion, Qalandars skipper Sohail was miffed. “Everyone has to take responsibility, especially the batsmen, otherwise this will be the result. There was a bit of spin but the ball was coming on nicely,” he said in the post-match interview. 

Earlier in the evening, Qalandars won the toss and decided to bowl first. Proving the skipper’s decision right, Faulkner removed opener Usman Khan in the second over itself. However, the two overseas imports of Gladiators, Australian Jake Weatherald and South Africa’s Cameron Delport added 58 for the second wicket to stabilise the innings. The two were removed in quick succession by Hafeez and Rashid respectively. It was then that Azam Khan’s cameo of 33 from 18 pushed the men in purple ahead. 

But then the Gladiators lost Azam and Nawaz in the same over and were staring down a similar collapse which has been attached to their identity this season. Skipper Sarfaraz though had some other ideas as he alongside youngster Hassan added 43 runs in the remaining 30 balls to take Gladiators to 158. Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 34 from 17 balls.

Speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony, the wicketkeeper-batsman was elated with the 18 run victory. He said, “This match and the win was really important for us. I'm really proud of the comeback from the boys and the fielding was good which also helped us a lot in building the pressure.”

For Quetta to qualify for the Playoffs, they must win their remaining two games and hope that among Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans, any two of them lose their remaining matches with handsome margins. They can ensure at least one loss as they face Sultans on Wednesday, June 16 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 

Lahore though could breathe even now as they just need to win one more game out of their remaining two to ensure their presence in the Playoffs. They next face Karachi in the second game of the doubleheaders day on June 17.

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PSL 2021 Preview: Multan look to continue momentum against exhausted Quetta

Multan Sultans once again will be up against Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Both sides haven’t really had a great tournament so far. While Multan only managed to win three out of their first seven matches that they played, Gladiators suffered defeats in six games. But with their last game win over Lahore Qalandars, the Sarfaraz Ahmed led team is hanging by the thread as far as Playoff chances are concerned. Gladiators have already defeated Sultans first leg in Karachi by 22 runs. Usman Khan scored a fine 50-ball 81 to take his team to a total of 176/7 in 20 overs while the bowlers then bundled out the Sultans for 154 to win the match. Gladiators would be looking to repeat the feat when they take on Multan while Rizwan’s troops would be eyeing to level their scores against Sarfaraz’s men. The Multan side would be coming into this match with a comprehensive 8-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi. Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood scored individual half-centuries to hand their side a win eventually in the match. Gladiators on the other hand have an aggressive batsman in Azam Khan in the middle-order. The youngster showed his ability with the bat against Lahore Qalandars after he chipped in with a quick-fire 33 off 18. But the batting has become a major problem for Quetta especially in the absence of Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis. Russell suffered a blow on his helmet during the match against Islamabad United and was later taken to the hospital. South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis was also injured in the team’s fixture against Peshawar Zalmi while fielding. Either the top-order fails for Quetta or the middle-order isn’t able to capitalise on the starts given by the top-order batsmen which has been a major cause for the side’s dismal show in the tournament. Match Details Match – Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators – 25th match Venue – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Time – 09:30 PM IST, 01:00 PM GMT Pitch Report The slowish nature of the tracks in Abu Dhabi might have something for the spinners but the dew factor at night is also a major aspect in the game. While the spinners would play an important role in the middle overs especially in the first innings, the team batting second might get help because of dew. So, if you win the toss, elect to field. Team News Quetta Gladiators: All-rounder Andre Russell and South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis didn’t feature in the clash against the Lahore Qalandars. The two players suffered injuries during the course of the tournament. Moreover, Russell is also a part of the West Indies squad for T20Is against South Africa and has been reportedly released for national duties. Earlier, three Zalmi players, David Miller, Fabien Allen and Fidel Edwards also left the PSL to feature in the bilateral tie between the two nations. Quetta can however enjoy the services of Jack Wildermuth in place of Zahoor Khan as they played the last game with one foreigner short. It is surprising why till now they have not played the Adelaide allrounder so far. Multan Sultans: Mutan Sultans will be without the services of Shimron Hetmyer for the remainder of the PSL as the batsman will be busy playing for the national side in the T20I series against South Africa at home. Sultans would need to tweak their playing XI after Hetmyer’s departure. Asif Afridi and Hammad Azam have joined the squad. Probable XI Quetta Gladiators Usman Khan, Cameron Delport, Jake Weatherald, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK), Azam Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Jack Wildermuth, Hassan Khan, Usman Shinwari, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, Multan Sultans Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (C and WK), Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Blessing Muzarabani, Shahnawaz Dhani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir Fantasy XI Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (C), Saim Ayub, Jake Weatherald, Cameron Delport, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azam Khan (VC), Rilee Rossouw, Shahnawaz Dhani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir

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Cheteshwar Pujara credits bowlers for Test Championship journey, asserts India up for the challenge

India’s number three Cheteshwar Pujara has credited the bowlers, and more specifically, the pacers for winning India a place in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. He said that Indian bowling attack has the required set of skills to take 20 wickets in any given conditions and also the team have had many backup options in the recent past to make India a reliable team across the world. "The reason we have reached the WTC Final is because of our pacers and bowlers. They can take 20 wickets in any condition. And I am really happy to see them grow. And we have so many backup options and everyone is ready for the challenge,” Pujara said in the virtual press conference two days prior to the WTC final. Pointing out the conext and value that the Test Championship brings to the longest format of the game, which he said must ‘survive’, Pujara said that India’s triumph in the final of the WTC will inspire youngserts coming into the game to take up the long form of the game. "Test cricket needs to survive and with WTC, it will definitely help. If we win, then more younger players will want to play Test cricket. Each and every series means a lot now. This should continue,” Pujara added. India’s rise and journey into the WTC final was also driven by youngerts who were more than ready to take on the big men of the international cricket and proved to be match-winners very early in their career against Australia. Predicting ‘successful’ careers for them, Pujara said that the youngerts coming into the side are ‘confident’ and hungry to win matches for the country. "The best part about youngsters is they are confident. They want to win matches. They didn't know much about conditions in Australia but they still did well. They always look to improve. They will be successful,” Pujara reckoned. India have not had any match-practice leading up to the WTC final except the intra-squad match they played by dividing the jumbo squad into two and setting up simulated targets and situations. The lack of match practice could well find India short against an impressive New Zealand, who have just won their first series in England since 1999 but Pujara has a lot of confidence on his teammates and reckoned that the men in blue are up for the big challenge. "We are up for the challenge and going with a lot of confidence. “The mental part is very important as it is just one match. We have had 10-12 days of preparation time as well. Mentally you need to up there,” Pujara reckoned. "It is about getting back into the rhythm. When we were out there in the middle, we wanted to make the most out of it. We also had some practice pitches available. We utilised the time pretty well" Pujara has already stated how much the World Test Championship means to him and other Test speiclaists, who play only the longest format and he reiterated his sentiment less than 48 hours away from when the coin will go up in Southampton. "Personally, it means a lot to me. This is the first WTC Final and we have worked for it over a period of time. We as a team is looking forward team. Playing finals is always big,” Pujara concluded. India’s hopes of combatting the star-studded pace bowling lineup of New Zealand that comprises of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner, will rely heavily on Pujara’s shoulders if they have to win the inaugural edition of a championship that their coach had rated ‘one of the biggest, if not the biggest event’ in the world of cricket.