Sitting comfortably at the top two of the table, Islamabad United (IU) and Quetta Gladiators (QG) will get two chances to place their bid for the final. The winning team will earn a ticket straight to the final, the losing side gets one more chance. But for Islamabad, the path ahead is more tumultuous than it seems.
Out of the four games that they have lost so far, three have come in Lahore, the very venue that will host the remainder of the league. Beyond this season, too, IU’s record at the Gaddafi Stadium is dismal. They have the worst win-to-loss ratio here, managing only one win for every two of their losses.
That they have lost four of their last five games doesn’t help Islamabad’s case either. After charging ahead of the remaining teams, their juggernaut came to a sudden halt, which saw them remain winless for four games straight. They bounced back only in their recent game versus Karachi Kings, which shot them to the second spot, giving them the enviable luxury of two shots at the final.
Quetta, on the other hand, have looked like a complete package. Unbothered by venues, opposition, or even a looming war, they maintained their form for the entire tournament, being outdone only twice in ten games. Quetta were also the first to break Islamabad’s unscathed record this year, and then did it once more for good measure.
Still, what happens on Wednesday will matter more than whatever has transpired before.
Team Overview:
Quetta cracked the code for consistency this season. They have managed to dominate with both the bat and the ball. Even without their heavyweights Finn Allen and Rilee Rossouw, who did not feature in QG’s last group stage game, they managed to put on a spectacle. Allen, paired with Saud Shakeel at the top, have been a force to be reckoned with. Hasan Nawaz, their top run-scorer this year, along with Rossouw in the middle order, are the reason why Quetta’s No. 4 to No. 7 average the highest in this PSL.
And if that wasn’t enough, Khawaja Nafay’s recent fifty against Multan only added more sheen to their solid batting lineup. And that’s hardly it for the table toppers. QG have been equally brilliant with their bowling plans. Abrar Ahmed is only two wickets short of the highest wicket-taker in PSL this season, closely followed by his teammates Faheem Ashraf (14) and Khurram Shehzad (12).
Islamabad’s strength has largely lain, this season, in their batting assets. The return of Alex Hales, a seasoned United player, has only made them more potent with the bat. Their recent game against Karachi saw the top two batters, Sahibzada Farhan and Hales, complementing each other in going full throttle on Rawalpindi’s belter. A call-up for Farhan to the upcoming Bangladesh series has likely given his confidence an extra boost, just in time for the playoffs.
Islamabad United’s bowling lineup this year has been quite a patchwork, but still managing to get the job done more often than not. They don’t have any headline-grabbing names in their bowling attack, but what they possess is variety, which has helped them get the job done more often than not.
Shadab Khan has done this season what he does best: chip in everywhere while leading from the front. Imad Wasim, on the other hand, has largely operated in stealth mode, quietly using his run-choking ability to pick up wickets consistently. Among bowlers with at least 12 wickets this year, no one has been nearly as frugal as him, with a bowling economy of 7.06.
One could argue Islamabad could have done better with more oomph in their pace attack. With Ben Dwarshuis, Tymal Mills, and Salman Irshad, they managed to get plenty of experience, but somehow still coould not exert the sort of dominance that has become so integral for teams in T20 cricket.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Quetta and Islamabad are neck and neck in the games they have faced each other, with QG slightly ahead, winning 11 games and losing 10.
Weather and Pitch Report:
The last PSL game was played more than a fortnight ago. The venue had worn out too much by that time, giving a balance between both ball and bat. Lahore has seen the 200-run mark breached twice, but never in the second innings, where the stroke-making is seen to have become difficult. Fast bowlers will find more off the surface than spinners, who have conceded nearly 8 runs more per wicket. The weather is clear of any rain threats, so a full game of exciting cricket will await the Lahore crowd.
Prediction:
Quetta seem primed for another final, and they will hope to do it in this very game with form and history on their side.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: A Sports, PTV Sports, Tapmad, Tamasha, Walee Technologies, Myco App, Begin
India: FanCode App, Sony Sports Network
Africa: Super Sports
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan: Sony Sports Network
North America: Willow TV
MENA: MYCO
Rest of the World: Sports Central
