Wahab Riaz’s best-ever PSL figures lift Zalmi to numero uno position in Points Table

After a nightmarish bowling performance in the previous game against Quetta Gladiators, where he ended up with his worst ever PSL figures (2-54 in four overs), Peshawar Zalmi skipper came back with a bang to achieve his best ever bowling performance to roll over Islamabad United. Riaz, 35, picked up four wickets to break the back of the United batting lineup. He was greatly helped by Zalmi’s English import Saqib Mahmood, who picked three wickets and ended up with figures of 3-12 in 2.1 overs, while Riaz finished at 4-17 in his quota of four overs.

Chasing a total meagre target of 119, Zalmi were rocked by United’s Hasan Ali who dismissed Imam-Ul-Haq for nought in the very first over. Hasan was supported well by Islamabad’s emerging talent Mohammad Wasim Jr., who got rid of dangerous Kamran Akmal in the very next over. The two bowlers kept it tight for the first four overs, conceding only 11 runs in the first four overs.

Slowly but steadily, senior Zalmi batsman Shoaib Malik in partnership with Englishman Tom-Kohler-Cadmore started ticking the scoreboard, adding 63 runs in 64 balls for the fourth wicket. When Cadmore was finally removed by a Fawad Ahmed googly in the 13th over, the wicket, instead of being an entry into the game for the United, rather closed the door on them. Because Haider Ali arrived at the crease with six off Ahmed took the game away from United very quickly. He scored an 18 ball 36 and closed in on the target, getting out, just when the Zalmi required three more runs to win. Ali added 47 runs in 25 balls with Malik, who remained unbeaten on 29.

Earlier in the evening, Zalmi skipper Wahab invited Islamabad to bat after winning the toss. Even after Alex Hales providing a quick strong start, the other batsmen couldn’t accompany him for long. Irishman Paul Stirling, playing his first game became the first of the four scalps of Riaz while Phil Salt failed once again as he was removed by Mahmood. Mahmood's three-wicket haul pushed him to 10 scalps in just four games making him the leading wicket-taker in PSL 6 so far.

Skipper Shadab Khan got run out and Faheem Ashraf, who was promoted up the order played a loose shot, getting out off a Umaid Asif delivery. Soon Alex Hales (41 off 27) also departed, leaving too much to be done by the likes of Asif Ali, Hussain Talat and Iftikhar Ahmed, all of whom failed on this occasion.

With this win at the NSK, Zalmi have gone top the table in the league after playing four games. They will next face Karachi Kings on a double header’s day on March 3rd. Riaz, who after conceding 105 runs in his last eight overs, gave his best PSL performance, was awarded Man of the Match.

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Babar Azam punishes wayward Multan as Karachi continue ‘bat second win match’ streak in PSL 6

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam finally hit form after a long lull period science the end of Pakistan’s England tour, scoring a match-winning unbeaten 91 to take his side Karachi Kings past Multan Sultans. Chasing a tough target of 196, Babar faced early hiccups as he wasn’t able to time the ball properly. Both Babar and his partner were so much cramped for room in the first two overs, that they could only score seven runs from it, with Sohail khan’s out-swinging deliveries going past Babar’s bat quite often. However luck was by the side of the openers as in the third over, Sohail was taken for 18 runs, even without bowling one bad ball as edges flew past here and there giving momentum to the Karachi batsmen. Once they had the momentum, there was no looking back for Babar. Sharejeel though was caught by skipper Mohammad Rizwan off youngster Shahnawaz Dhani in the fifth over. But even after that Babar continued his march towards the total, ably supported by Kings’ foreign import Joe Clarke. The two added 97 for the third wicket, taking the Karachi total to 153 in just the 15th over, killing the game for the Sultans to even try and make a comeback. Colin Ingram the next man in for Kings didn’t have a great time at the crease as he was caught by Dhani off Sohail Khan for just six runs. The formalities were then completed by Babar and Afghan Mohammad Nabi, completing the second win for Karachi in three games. Babar Azam was awarded Man of the Match for his performance. The Karachi batsmen didn’t give any chance to the Multan fielders but the bowling from the Sultans was average, to say the least. When they had got the two openers in a grip at the start of the chase, Rizwan and the bowlers shouldn’t have let them go at any cost. In the middle overs too, experienced Shahid Afridi was very experience and so was Khushdil Shah the part-time left-arm spinner. Between them, they gave away 60 runs in five overs without even taking a single wicket. The pacers too were wayward in their approach, as they kept bowling wither too short or too full for Babar to exploit them. Usman’s Qadir approach towards googly was also deciphered well by the Kings and it resulted in a sad performance overall from the Sultans’ bowler. Earlier in the day, Sultans couldn’t capitalise on the start given by their top-order batsmen. Put in to bat after losing the toss, Rizwan and Chris Lynn started the innings confidently for Multan. The two of them added 53 for the opening stand in just 4.1 overs. Lynn fell down, still, the scoring rate continued to soar as Rizwan added another 70 runs with James Vince, taking the team total to 123 in just 11 overs. But as Rizwan and Vince fell in quick succession, the Sultans lost the plot and could manage to score only 72 runs in the last 50 balls. Arshad Iqbal was once again the pick of the bowlers for Kings, taking two wickets for 36 runs. With this win at the National Stadium in Karachi, the streak of ‘team winning the toss, batting second and winning the game’ has remained intact even after nine games into the tournament. While Karachi have now moved up to the top of the table with four points from three games. Multan though suffered their third defeat in four games and are at second last position in the table.

Super 50 Finale Guyana vs T&T: Two best teams at group stage square-up each other for bragging rights in West Indies cricket

After 21 days and 18 matches, the premium domestic List-A competition of the West Indies, the Super 50 has finally arrived at its final juncture with the two best teams competing against each other for the final glory. Kieron Pollard led Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel are up against Leon Johnson’s Guyana Jaguars at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua for one last time. While the Jaguars have lost once in the tournament, T&T has remained unbeaten. It has not only remained unbeaten but way ahead of the rest of the teams in terms of the way they have dominated every game. T&T's incredible journey The Trinidad and Tobago team started with a fine victory against Jamaica as they chased down 259 with 10 overs remaining. From there on, they never looked back. They beat the Windward Islands by five wickets in their second game. The only game where they were put in a spot of bother was against Barbados Pride. They lost their top five wickets at 158 while chasing 254 and Jason Mohammad was left with Sunil Narine to steer the ship home and he did by scoring a brilliant hundred. Post that match, they once again got back to their very best, beating Leewards Islands Hurricanes by nine wickets and dismissing Guyana for 187 and then chasing it down in 40 overs, winning the game by six wickets. In the semi-finals. It was a repeat of the first game as Jamaica made a 250ish total and Red Steel chased it down in 42 overs with six wickets in hand. Guyana Jaguars journey The Jaguars started the tournament in a bit shaky manner, getting all out for 235 in 42 overs in their first game against Barbados Pride. However, some tight bowling and rain helped them bag the win by 56 runs with the Duckworth Lewis and Stern method. Post that game, there was no problem for Jaguars as they defeated the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by five wickets and Jamaica by a huge margin of 109 runs before going down to T&T. Moving on from that defeat, Jaguars beat Windward Islands Volcanoes twice, once in their last league game and once in the Semi-Finals to make it to the finals. Players to watch out Jason Mohammed Leading run-scorer in the tournament so far, Mohammed, 34 is the key batsman of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel. In six innings, the Trinidad born has scored 326 runs at a terrific average of 54.33. He has to his credit one century and one-half century and could be the dangerman for Guyana. Gudakesh Motie In the first-class circuit for the past five years, the left-arm orthodox from Georgetown, Guyana has come to his own in this tournament. The Guyanese has so far picked up 16 wickets in six innings with 4/45 being his best. He ha picked up three four-wicket hauls so far. He is going to be the trump card for the Jaguars. Shimron Hetmyer The West Indies middle-order mainstay, Hetmyer knows only one way to play and that is ‘see the ball hit the ball’. He did just that in this tournament hitting two fifties and one hundred, while in the remaining three innings, he struggled to even get past the double figures. With 280 runs in six innings, Hetymyer is the third-highest run-getter in the tournament so far. For Guyana to have any chance of turning the game in their favour, Hetmyer must get going. Evin Lewis The other West Indian who has found form in this tournament is Evin Lewis. The left-hander has so far hit a century and a half-century and has the ability to take the game away from the opposition. In the tournament so far, he has hit 261 runs, although his form in the last few innings hasn’t been good. But a batter of the ability of Lewis is always a danger for the opposition. The final match would begin at 11:00 pm IST and ball to ball coverage would come your way through OneCricket. For details, Click Here.

New COVID strain forces New Zealand to change NZ-AUS schedule

The upcoming matches in the bilateral series between Australia and New Zealand men and New Zealand vs England women will now be played behind closed doors and in a different venue owing to a new COVID-19 case in New Zealand which has raised the alert levels in the country. It has severely disrupted the ongoing limited-overs series for both Men and Women. Auckland moved to Alert Level 3 ahead of the two matches in February which means the games will now be played in Wellington behind closed doors. Both men and women’s squad will now stay in Wellington following their respective matches. The doubleheader on 7th March which was slated to be played in Tauranga will go on as planned. The decision on crowds will be decided after government advice. The decision to move the matches were taken following Prime Minister Jacinda Adern’s decision to impose a week of Level 3 lockdown in Auckland following the Ministry of Health revealed a potentially infectious COVID strain which has affected the 13th individual in February group. Meanwhile, the Kiwis Men’s team lead the Aussies 2-0 in the 5 match T20I series while the White Ferns trail by the same margin against the English women in the ODI series.

Yusuf Pathan to feature in Road Safety World Series

Former India players Yusuf Pathan, Namaj Ojha and R Vinay Kumar will feature in the Road Safety World Series’ slated to begin on March 5. The three players who retired recently will play for India Legends. The Indian team comprises players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh. Apart from this, former Sri Lanka captain and opener Sanath Jayasuriya will play for Sri Lanka Legends. “Sri Lanka Legends have also included Sanath Jayasuriya, Russel Arnold and Upul Tharanga in their team led by Tillakaratne Dilshan,” a media release issued here said on Saturday. India will begin the campaign against Bangladesh legends on March 5 while all the matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. The first edition of the tournament was called-off last year after four matches due to the COVID-19 outburst. Squads: India Legends: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Pragyan Ojha, Noel David, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Manpreet Gony, Yusuf Pathan, Naman Ojha, S Badrinath and Vinay Kumar. Sri Lanka Legends: Thilakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Russel Arnold, Dulanjana Wijesinghe and Malinda Warnapura. West Indies Legends: Brian Lara, Tino Best, Ridley Jacobs, Narsingh Deonarine, Sulieman Benn, Dinanath Ramnarine, Adam Sanford, Carl Hooper, Dwayne Smith, Ryan Austin, William Perkins and Mahendra Nagamootoo. South Africa Legends: Jonty Rhodes, Morne van Wyk, Garnett Kruger, Roger Telemachus, Justin Kemp, Alviro Petersen, Nantie Hayward, Andrew Puttick, Loots Bosman, Zander de Bruyn, Thandi Tshabalala, Monde Zondeki, Makhaya Ntini and Lloyd Norris-Jones.