The star-studded Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, failed to get their 2024 campaign off to a good start, as they were outmaneuvered by Quetta Gladiators in the second game of the season.
Babar Azam won the toss and decided to field first. Quetta Gladiators, after being put in to bat, posted a total of 206 on the board, which Babar Azam‘s side failed to chase.
Despite a loss, the Peshawar Zalmi skipper was the standout batter for his side as he amassed 68 runs off 42 deliveries.
On that note, let us look at what went wrong for Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators:
(1)Bowlers let Babar Azam down as the Quetta Gladiators’ openers put up a huge partnership
Quetta Gladiators, who have started this season with a new captain in Rilee Rossouw, opened the innings with seasoned campaigner – Jason Roy, and the 28-year old talented Pakistani batter – Saud Shakeel.
The Quetta Gladiators do not bat very deep, and some quick wickets could have disrupted their innings early on. However, what followed was an absolutely incredible 157-run opening stand between Roy and Saud.
Anything too full or too short was put away with disdain.
Luke Wood failed to find his lines and lengths, while Mohammad Zeeshan failed to make good use of his height, attempting bouncers that failed to rise enough on the batters.
Aamer Jamal looked clueless, bowling wayward deliveries and serving juicy half-volleys to the two openers. Saim Ayub got a chance to roll his arm over, but he was taken to the cleaners.
Babar Azam’s side got a breakthrough only in the 16th over, but the opening pair had already added a mammoth 157 runs to the total, and by then, the damage was done.
(2)Chances in the field going down
Catches often win matches, and in this format of the game, any opportunity that isn’t grabbed could cost a side big time. Both the Quetta Gladiators openers got a life apiece.
Dan Mousley dropped Saud Shakeel off his own bowling in the 8th over of the game, while Rovman Powell failed to latch on to a Jason Roy chance in the 13th over.
Earlier, Saud Shakeel survived a close call in just the second over of the game when Saim Ayub grabbed a low catch, but the third umpire did not find it clean enough to be adjudged out.
In hindsight, if a couple of those chances did not go begging and were caught instead, the Quetta Gladiators innings could have shaped up very differently.
(3)No help for Babar Azam post the first wicket and a questionable batting order
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam came out all guns blazing, adding 70 runs in the powrplay. After 8 overs, Peshawar Zalmi were 86 for no loss, and it looked like they would cruise their way to a comfortable victory, specially with the kind of firepower in their middle order.
To their misfortune, it all went downhill after Saim Ayub’s wicket in the 9th over.
Mohammad Haris, who strikes at over 180 in his PSL career, threw his wicket away soon with a very unnecessary shot at that point of time.
Coming in at number 4, Tom Kohler-Cadmore failed to get going and struggled to break the shackles.
The pressure got to Babar Azam, who was then dismissed in an effort to keep up with the required run-rate. In the same over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore was also dismissed by Abrar Ahmed for a run-a-ball 18.
The number 3 and 4 batters scored a combined total of 25 runs off 24 deliveries, and this was never going to suffice while chasing a score in excess of 200.
Requiring 56 off the last 4 overs, Peshawar Zalmi were still very much in the game. However, Dan Mousley was sent in number 6 over Asif Ali, a promotion that made little sense considering the success Asif Ali has had in the league over the years.
Dan Mousley played a horrid, potentially game-costing knock, as he managed to score just 11 runs off 12 deliveries.
Asif Ali, who has displayed impeccable six-hitting ability in the past, came in with 26 runs needed off 9 deliveries, which more often than not would not be chased down successfully.