PES vs LAH: Match Preview, PSL 2022- Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars, Pakistan Super League 2022 Match 09

Peshawar Zalmi takes on Lahore Qalandars in the 9^th match of the Pakistan Super League 2022 on Wednesday at National Stadium in Karachi. The Peshawar Zalmi currently finds itself at second from the bottom of the points table, having managed to win one game out of two.

On the other hand, Lahore Qalandars are at the fourth position with an equal number of points. Both teams are set to take on each other on Wednesday. Here’s a look at how these two teams have performed thus far.

PES vs LAH: Match Preview, PSL 2022- Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars, Pakistan Super League 2022 Match 09

Lahore Qalandars:

Lahore Qalandars lost their first game at the hands of Multan Sultans by 5 wickets on Saturday. However, they came back strongly in their next game against Karachi Kings. Fakhar Zaman showed his batting prowess in both games. His form would be crucial for the team’s fortune this year. Chasing a 170-run total against Karachi Kings in the last game, Fakhar Zaman played one of the best knocks in the history of the tournament.

In pursuit of the target, wickets were falling at regular intervals, but Fakhar Zaman held firm at the other end. He ensured the runs keep coming at the required rate. The southpaw managed to score 106 runs in 69 deliveries, a knock which was laced with 12 fours and 4 sixes. He got out on the final ball of the penultimate over. However, Samit Patel ensured the team cross the finishing line with 4 balls remaining in the match. He played a vital unbeaten 26-run knock off 18 deliveries.

Abdullah Shafique, earlier, got out cheaply for 8 off 8 deliveries, while M Hafeez (24 off 21) was guilty of not converting the start into a big score. He would need to play a big knock if Lahore wants to go deep in the tournament.

Earlier, in the first innings, Lahore Qalandars couldn’t pick a single wicket in the first 10 overs. However, they managed to pick 7 in the next 10 overs. Rashid Khan, as usual, was brilliant as he took 1 for 24 in his 4 overs. Shaheen Afridi was far from his best as he was a bit wayward. Afridi picked 1 for 31 in 4 overs. Haris Rauf didn’t start off too well but managed to pick crucial wickets in the slog overs. He returned with figures of 3 for 33 in 4 overs.

Peshawar Zalmi:

Peshawar Zalmi began their campaign with a win but couldn’t continue the winning momentum. Wahab Riaz and Co. were thrashed by 9 wickets in the second game against Islamabad United. Impressive bowling from Islamabad led to them losing 4 wickets for just 35 runs in 6.1 overs.

However, Shoaib Malik and Sherfane Rutherford then led the recovery with a fifty-plus partnership. The former got out after scoring 25 off 22 but Rutherford kept hitting boundaries at regular intervals.

He then put on another fifty-plus stand with Ben Cutting, helping the team reach a competitive score of 170 runs in the first innings. Rutherford played an unbeaten 70-run knock off 46 deliveries, while Ben Cutting made 26 off 17.

However, Peshawar Zalmi couldn’t defend that total as Islamabad United chased it down inside 16 overs. The bowlers failed to pick a single wicket during the innings. The only wicket that came through a run-out. Ahead of the next game against Lahore, Peshawar’s bowling unit needs to step up to the plate if they need to win it.