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And so, we have another rendition of Shaheen Shah Afridi v. Babar Azam lined up tomorrow in Qualifier 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium. The winner will proceed to play the Multan Sultans in the title clash. Who will it be? We will have our answers tomorrow so do join us for our coverage of a mouth-watering second Qualifier right here on Sportskeeda, while also keeping yourselves updated with further cricketing news and action from around the world on this very platform. For the moment though, this is the duo of Karthik Raj and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Good night and take care. See you tomorrow!
Big development earlier today with a murky weather forecast forcing the organizers to advance the final of the Pakistan Super League 2023 by a day. Here's all you need to know regarding the same!👇
An effort that Babar Azam will feel proud of as skipper. His bowlers have given it absolutely everything and it's up to the entire cast to stand up tomorrow as they face the Lahore Qalandars in Qualifier 2. Not going to be easy against a Lahore crowd that is bound to back the defending champions to the hilt but Zalmi have the chance to pull off something special.
As for Islamabad United, they had their moments this tournament. But as Shadab Khan mentioned, they never looked the perfect team all tournament. Plenty of positives but for the star-studded squad they had, they will feel they have underachieved this year as the curtains come down on their campaign.
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi captain): Our bowlers did well in the middle-overs. There was reverse-swing. We were aiming for 200 with the bat but it wasn't easy for the new batter to get in. I thought we we were 20 runs short. We will discuss about the mistakes. We will have to bowl well in the powerplay.
Shadab Khan (Islamabad United captain): We struggled with the ball in the first ten overs. Our comeback was outstanding but with the bat, we were in control of things. Credit goes to how well they bowled and they way they bowled their yorkers. Wins and losses are part of the game. The decisions you take, it works at times and at times it doesn't. Our body language wasn't great in the first ten overs. (Sum up the season) We are glad we qualified for the playoffs but as a team we never played perfectly in the tournament. We could have finished in the top two as well but didn't play smart cricket.
Salman Irshad (Peshawar Zalmi): I don't bowl much at the death. I bowled in the powerplay last year. I just looked to focus on my basics and it worked for me. You can bowl a yorker on any wicket. It doesn't matter how the wicket is. I possess a good yorker. Babar bhai was telling us that if we get a wicket or two we will get back into the game. Azam Khan's wicket was the big one give how he has been playing this year. Wahab bhai has a lot of experience and he shares it with us. Babar bhai also tells us how to bowl. We play together in domestic cricket too and he always gives his inputs.
Match summary: Peshawar Zalmi prevail over Islamabad United by 12 runs to progress to Qualifier 2.
63 runs were required off the last 7 overs with nine wickets in hand and the duo of Alex Hales and Sohaib Maqsood going strong. Just how did Islamabad United botch up the chase thereafter? But mind you, this is more about Peshawar Zalmi and their bowlers rising to the occasion. They have been nothing short of stupendous in the death overs after they had 183 runs to play with once their batters failed to capitalize on a flyer.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz's stay was short-lived but with Maqsood and Hales seeing it like a beachball, there was nothing much the bowlers could do in the powerplay for Zalmi. Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled tight lines and lengths, but the seamers released the pressure at the other end to let United off the hook. There was nothing happening off the pitch and that made life very difficult for the Zalmi bowlers, even as Mujeeb, Salman Irshad and James Neesham strung in some tight overs to keep the game afloat.
It was Irshad's spell that really broke this game open. He was at it with his yorkers while also unleashing the slower one when he pulled his length back. Young Aamer Jamal followed suit and despite both Hales and Maqsood getting to their respective half-centuries, their wickets brought the game back to life. Intertwined in between was the wicket of the in-form Azam Khan, with Irshad's magnificent yorker castling him.
The pressure clearly started to tell on the batters as harakiri followed - Faheem Ashraf strolled out of his crease and was run out and once Colin Munro's rusty stay ended with him chopping it onto his stumps, Zalmi had surged into the ascendancy. Shadab Khan was United's last ray of hope but with the bowlers relentlessly firing their yorkers and giving nothing away, it all slipped out of hand for good with Jamal holding his nerve in the final over to combine forces with Irshad and seal the deal for Zalmi. That was quite a spectacular effort and now, they will take on the Lahore Qalandars to fight for a spot in the final against the Multan Sultans. Presentation coming up shortly so stick around folks...
A death bowling masterclass of the highest order and Zalmi live to see another day. It's Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi tomorrow in Qualifier 2. What a match we've witnessed!
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Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Hasan Ali
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Aamer Jamal
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