What's new

Azam Khan hits 59 off 33 balls as Quetta Gladiators defeat Islamabad United by 3 wickets

Abdullah719

T20I Captain
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Runs
44,825
A pretty good first match to start PSL 5.


psl1.jpg

Mohammad Hasnain’s maiden four-wicket haul and Azam Khan’s first-ever half-century helped Quetta Gladiators to begin their title defence with a three-wicket win over Islamabad United in the opening match of the HBL PSL 2020 at Karachi’s National Stadium.

Hasnain returned four for 25 in his four overs which played a crucial role in bowling out Islamabad United for 168 in 19.1 overs after Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed opted to bowl.

The right-arm pacer was supported by Ben Cutting and Sohail Khan who took three and two wickets respectively.

With 64 runs from 40 balls, Dawid Malan, who hit five fours and three sixes, was the top-scorer in Islamabad’s innings. Wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi, who opened the innings, had the second best score of the innings (23 off 13).

Quetta Gladiators chased down the target with nine balls spare as Azam, playing only his second T20, scored 59 off 33, hitting five fours and three sixes.

The 21-year-old crafted a crucial 62-run partnership with his captain Sarfaraz (21 off 18) to help Gladiators recover from 26 for three.

Mohammad Nawaz and Cutting chipped in with 23 off 13 and an unbeaten 12-ball 22 respectively down the order.

For Islamabad, Musa Khan, the Pakistani international, took three wickets for 34 run, while bowling a maiden in his four overs. Akif Javed, Faheem Ashraf and Amad Butt picked up a wicket each.

For his exploits with the ball, Hasnain was named man of the match.

On Friday, Karachi Kings take on Peshawar Zalmi at the National Stadium, Karachi, while Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans lock horns at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Scores in brief

Islamabad United 168 all-out, 19.1 overs (Dawid Malan 64, Luke Ronchi 23, Faheem Ashraf 20; Mohammad Hasnain 4-25, Ben Cutting 3-31, Sohail Khan 2-21)

Quetta Gladiators 171-7, 18.3 overs (Azam Khan 59, Mohammad Nawaz 23, Ben Cutting 22 not out, Sarfaraz Ahmed 21; Mohammad Musa 3-30)

Result Quetta Gladiators won by three wickets
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ben Cutting always impress me with the bat. Not sure why Australia never considers him in national T20 side. He has Maxwell like potential.
 
Kudos to Azam.

Brought some life and entertainment to an otherwise pathetic team QG.

Hoping to see if he can hit on the offside too or not.
 
Shadab led his team really poorly out there.

The field placings, the bowling changes and his own bowling were terrible.
 
Azam Khan robbed of MOTM.

Hasnain was impressive but he got tail enders wickets as well. Also had Azam not have stood and scored it was near curtains for Quetta.
 
Shadab led his team really poorly out there.

The field placings, the bowling changes and his own bowling were terrible.
Not sure why would you make a struggling cricketer captain. Shadab has been medicore since quite a while now, and his own performances cannot get better with the additional pressure of captaincy.
 
How the hell was that a difficult pitch for pacers when all of them except Amad did well there? Azam robbed off the MOTM
 
Watching press conference, Malan complaining about being in the hotel all the tume, players might feel cabin fever as the tournament goes on
 
Watching press conference, Malan complaining about being in the hotel all the tume, players might feel cabin fever as the tournament goes on

It is important for PCB let these players have some fun. I wouldn't want to be caged in a hotel for a month
 
Watching press conference, Malan complaining about being in the hotel all the tume, players might feel cabin fever as the tournament goes on

Where's the press conference ?

Link
 
Just got back from an exam and this was not what I was expecting in my wildest dreams
I always thought he is going to get tired after 7 balls and he'll slog and get out
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ben Cutting always impress me with the bat. Not sure why Australia never considers him in national T20 side. He has Maxwell like potential.

really underrated. would prefer him as an all rounder for all formats. stoinis is the one who he is competing with, not maxwel. maxwell is a must pick for every limited overs match

especially t20
 
Watching press conference, Malan complaining about being in the hotel all the tume, players might feel cabin fever as the tournament goes on

Its just been around couple of days for Malan, they will be travelling between the cities and will obviously also get opportunities to travel around. If Pak players are also gonna be with them then I am not sure why is there a need for special security protocol for individuals. For example if Malan is hanging out with Shadab and Talat it just requires standard level of security.

Earlier the normal security protocols resumed the better.
 
2 Pakistani batsmen in I United were Talat & Asif !! Wow Misbah!! lmao oh and a 36yr old pacer too!
 
Azam is looking really good. His father was a fighter and I see that fighting spirit in him.
 
He's inconsistent.

Not sure either. He's been one of the better players in the BBL for a while. He was all the rage a few years ago but a bit overlooked now.

He's better at T20 than Stoinis or Henriques imo but seems to get overlooked for guys that can pick in ODI teams too.
 
Azam Khan really packs a punch. The ball comes off his bat like a bullet. Some really impressive hitting yesterday. I think we can spare him the jokes about his weight for now at least, given how well he has performed. Still though, what we cannot deny is that he needs to shed a few kilos. Islamabad were still in the game however after he was dismissed, but Ben Cutting ran away with the show. A good match, a good beginning to the season.

Coming back to Azam, there´s still a long way to go for him, and he must be well aware of it.
 
Back
Top