Pre-Matches Story!
Misbah-Ul-Haq’s Islamabad United will kick off their journey in HBL PSL 2018 with their opening match against Peshawar Zalmi at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Since it’s Peshawar Zalmi’s second T20 in the competition as earlier they lost to Multan Sultans in the inaugural match of Pakistan Super League’s third edition on February 22, they must be under a bit pressure.
In bilateral battles, Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi have been head to head five times in PSL 2016/17, in which Islamabad United emerged victorious thrice while Peshawar Zalmi sealed the victory twice. But overall both the former PSL Champions maintain almost even PSL records as against Peshawar Zalmi’s 57.14% triumphs, Islamabad Unites have 55.00%.
Islamabad United have the credit of having won the first edition of PSL in 2016 whereas Peshawar Zalmi clinched the trophy last year.
In today’s T20, Lahore Qalandars will take on Quetta Gladiators at 9:00 pm PST in a match which will let the winner to bag 2 critical points as both these sides lost their previous games against Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings respectively.
By now Multan Sultans top the HBL PSL 2018 Points Table with 4 points after two matches followed by Karachi Kings which possess 2 points after one game. Rest of the Franchises have yet to open their accounts in the tournament.
Earlier on Friday, Karachi Kings ended the draught against Quetta Gladiators as in previous four T20s between them, all were won by the latter. The bowlers especially spinners played a key role in helping Karachi Kings to clinch their first ever victory against Quetta Gladiators by 19 runs.
Yesterday’s second T20 ended in a dramatic style as in pursuit of 180-run target against Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars lost their last 7 wickets for just 4 runs. While batting first, Multan Sultans’ Kumar Sangakkara again played a superb 63-run knock, and then Junaid Khan’s hat-trick and Imran Tahir’s brilliant spell of bowling helped the side register their second consecutive win in PSL’s third match, which once looked to be going in favour of Lahore Qalandars before they began to crumbled like leaves.
