PSL Qualifier 1, MUL vs PES | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

Babar Azam will be key for the Peshawar Zalmi [X.com]

The stage is set for Multan Sultans to lock horns with Peshawar Zalmi in the marquee Qualifier game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The table toppers collide in a riveting battle for supremacy that will also determine the first finalist of what has been a high-octane PSL season. 

The Sultans were the first team to reach the tournament playoffs with seven wins in their ten league stage encounters, before they were joined by the Zalmi franchise upon winning six of their ten games. The winner goes one step closer to the prestigious PSL trophy while the loser faces a strenuous Eliminator to join the first finalist in the summit clash. 

MUL vs PSL: Team Previews 

Multan Sultans

Sultans reinforced their class and pedigree with a dominating performance against former champions Quetta Gladiators in their last league game of PSL 2024. Rallying on half-centuries from skipper Mohammad Rizwan (69) and Johnson Charles (53), they posted an imposing first-innings total of 185/4 in their 20 overs. 

Then they pulled off a devastating effort with the ball, dismissing the Gladiators for just 106 inside 16 overs after young spinner Usama Mir (3/22) and left-arm pacer David Willey (3/22) bagged six wickets between them and ran through the opposition batting line-up. 

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The Sultans would be banking on these match-winners to go one step closer to the trophy with another comprehensive display in the high-pressure Qualifier bout with Zalmi. 

Peshawar Zalmi 

Unlike Sultans, Zalmi's league campaign ended with a close game against the Karachi Kings, whom they managed to defeat by 2 runs in a low-scoring thriller. In a rather unconvincing effort with the bat, the Peshawar side could post just 147/6 in their 20 overs, before their bowlers came to the party and managed to restrict the Kings to 145/5. 

Captain Babar Azam produced a measured fifty against his former PSL franchise and West Indies power-hitter Rovman Powell struck a priceless 30* off just 18 deliveries to ensure the Zalmi franchise had something to bowl with. 

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During the second half, Luke Wood (1/24), Naveen Ul Haq (2/22) and opener Saim Ayub (1/18) proved to be the real heroes of the night for their team as they managed to keep the game alive until the 20th over where pacer Aamer Jamal (1/38) successfully defended 17 runs. 

MUL vs PES: Match Details & Live Streaming 

MUL vs PES: Karachi Pitch Report

There are big runs to be had at the National Stadium in Karachi provided the batters make the right choices with their strokes in the middle. A fresh surface is expected to be rolled out for the big Qualifier game, where plenty of big shots will be anticipated from both the teams. The bounce at the venue has always been true and the pace good enough for the strokes to consistently sail over the ropes. Expect a high-scoring tussle. 

MUL vs PES: Probable Playing XIs

Multan Sultans: Yasir Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Usman Khan, Johnson Charles, Iftikhar Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Tayyab Tahir, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali

Peshawar Zalmi: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Aamer Jamal, Luke Wood, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Salman Irshad

MUL vs PES: Fantoss Fantasy Tips 

MUL vs PES: Winner Prediction

The Sultans have been the more dominant outfit of the two during the PSL 2024 so far and start off the Qualifier clash with Zalmi as strong favourites to book a ticket to the final. 

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