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PSL: Musa, Asif Ali put Islamabad on top
Islamabad United have dethroned Lahore Qalandars as the table-toppers following a 28-run victory in Dubai.
Lahore have now slipped to the second spot.
Both teams have 10 points in hand, but United have the edge owing to the best net run rate (+0.956) in the league.
For a side that was 47/5 at one stage in the first inning, this win is an instance of how well a deep batting line can help a team recover.
Asif Ali to the rescue
United hard-hitter Asif Ali put on a stellar performance against Lahore Qalandars at a time when most of the Islamabad batsmen were unable to prolong their stay at the crease.
His 75 off 43 propelled United to 152/7, a decent total that turned out to be just enough for Shadab Khan’s troops.
The right-handed slogger was middling the ball sweeter than ever.
He even creamed Rashid Khan for boundaries which most batters around the world find extremely hard to do.
Middle-order woes continue for Lahore
Fakhar Zaman and captain Sohail Akhter gave a solid start at the top, but the middle-order failed to carry on.
Muhammad Hafeez and Ben Dunk, who have been the Qalandars’ backbone in batting, haven’t yet turned up with their A-game in the Dubai leg of the PSL.
They have lost only two of their last games this season and the sooner the Hafeez-Dunk duo returns to form, the better.
Musa shines with three scalps
Musa Khan delivered the goods when Muhammad Wasim failed.
The right-arm pacer picked three wickets for 18 runs in his quota to dismantle the Lahore batting line-up.
Fakhar Zaman, who looked dangerous for his 44, was sent packing by the 20-year-old.
His other two victims were two game-changers as well: Ben Dunk and Hafeez.
Islamabad United 152 for 7 (Asif 75, Iftikhar 49, Faulkner 3-19) beat Lahore Qalandars 124 (Zaman 44, Musa 3-18, Shadab 2-14) by 28 runs.
Match preview: Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings
Defending PSL champions Karachi Kings will look to improve their position in the points table when they take on first-placed Islamabad United in Dubai on Monday.
Probable best performer
Babar Azam
Pakistan captain and Kings opener, Babar Azam, is well known for his consistency in white-ball cricket.
While Sharjeel sees off the new ball with cracking hits, it’s Babar Azam whose stay is most significant to Karachi’s cause.
He is this season’s highest scorer (343 runs) and averages just over 114.
The Pakistan skipper is expected to hammer United bowlers on Monday.
Match Prediction
After spanking Lahore Qalandars in the last outing, United are brimming with confidence.
Their sublime form is likely to help them overcome the Karachi showdown.
Kings have been inconsistent in the tournament, which is why they now languish at the fourth spot.
They have won thrice and lost many despite having one of the best batting attacks in the world.
They have Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan and now Martin Guptill up their sleeves.
A familiar pattern has been seen in Karachi’s losses this season – Sharjeel tries to hit one too many shots and gets dismissed.
Azam then has to prolong his stay with wickets tumbling from the other end. This results in a mediocre total for Imad Wasim’s men.
Ben Curran, brother of England cricketers Sam and Tom Curran, has earned his maiden call-up to Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan. The Curran family has deep ties to Zimbabwean cricket, with Ben’s father, Kevin Malcolm Curran, and grandfather, Kevin Patrick Curran, representing Zimbabwe internationally.
The series begins with T20Is on December 11, followed by ODIs and Tests. Ben will feature exclusively in the 50-over format. A left-handed batter, Ben boasts an impressive domestic career, averaging 33.30 in List A and 34.70 in first-class cricket. His inclusion reflects Zimbabwe’s reliance on talent with global exposure.
Zimbabwe’s ODI squad, led by Craig Ervine, also features rising stars like Newman Nyamhuri. The T20I side, captained by Sikandar Raza, includes dynamic players like Blessing Muzarabani and Ryan Burl, signaling a balanced blend of experience and youth for the challenging series ahead.
Following India’s heavy loss to Australia in the first Test of the series, Australian media highlighted key concerns for the Indian team, including Rohit Sharma’s performance as captain. Pat Cummins and his team’s emphatic win by 209 runs sparked discussions about India’s bowling strategy and batting collapse.
Australian newspapers like The Age underscored Mitchell Starc’s lethal bowling display as a stark reminder of his prowess in Test cricket. Starc’s fiery spell dismantled India’s top order, a performance seen as pivotal in Australia’s dominant victory. The media also pointed out the pressure mounting on Rohit Sharma for tactical shortcomings, including field placements and decision-making under challenging circumstances.
India’s batting lineup faltered against Australia’s aggressive bowling, with only a few players resisting. Critics emphasized that the Indian team’s inability to adapt to the pink-ball conditions in Adelaide cost them dearly. The media also praised Australia for its disciplined approach, particularly the consistency of its pace attack, which Starc and Cummins led.
As the series progresses, this defeat puts India under immense pressure to bounce back, especially with the spotlight on Rohit Sharma’s leadership and the team’s resilience. Fans now await India’s response in the next Test.
Chitwan Rhinos delivered a commanding performance to hand Sudurpaschim Royals their first defeat in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at Kirtipur. Winning the toss, Chitwan set a competitive total of 164/5 in 20 overs, led by Hassan Eisakhil’s stellar 65 off 52 balls. Ravi Bopara added an explosive 36 off 18 balls, while Sudurpaschim’s bowlers Scott Kuggeleijn and Dipendra Singh Airee each picked up crucial wickets.
In response, Sudurpaschim struggled, bowled out for 131 in 18.2 overs. Despite Ishan Pandey’s resilient 35 and contributions from Saif Zaib and Brandon McMullen, Chitwan’s disciplined bowling attack, featuring Kushal Malla and Amar Routela taking two wickets each, sealed the game. Chitwan now sits third on the table, while Sudurpaschim retains second due to net run rate.
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