Mohammad Irfan

Abhishek Singh ∙ 12 June 2021

PSL 2021 | QTG vs PSZ: Killer Miller, Irfan help Zalmi knock clueless Quetta almost out of Playoffs race

Quetta Gladiators’ woes continue as they lose yet another game in the Pakistan Super League. With this 61 run loss against the Peshawar Zalmi, the Sarfaraz Ahmed led side are almost out of the race to the playoffs. This is the Gladitors’ sixth loss in seven games and even if they go on to win their remaining three matches, they could get up to just eight points which wouldn’t suffice for them to make it to the Playoffs, until and unless some miracle happens. It was a poor performance by all means from the team in purple. Be it with the ball or the bat, they were no match at all to the team from the Swat valley in the north. Chasing a gigantic total of 198, the only phase where the Quetta side looked like being in the chase was during their opening partnership of 62 runs by two youngsters Usman Khan and Saim Ayub, who came as a concussion substitute for Faf du Plessis. Post that, it was all chaos as Mohammad Irfan picked up three wickets in just one over to jolt the batting order. From 69-1, the Gladiators were suddenly 70-4 with most of their attacking batters including Cameron Delport and Azam Khan walking back to the pavilion. Skipper Sarfaraz was left to fight the lone battle when Umaid Asif, also known as PSL’s Iron Man removed two batters, Mohammad Nawaz and Jake Weatherald in only his first over of the game. With nothing much to be gained from the game, the 34-year-old skipper chose to increase his average as he remained not out on 36 from 28 balls. Earlier in the evening, the story of the Gladiators bowling was also similar to their batting. After starting well, getting two quick wickets including that of experienced Shoaib Malik and putting Zalmi in all sorts of trouble, the Gladiators lost control. Capitalising on that, David Miller and Kamran Akmal, both of whom were struggling to get runs, got going. The two put together 125 runs in just 72 balls to break the shackle of the Quetta attack. Thereafter there was no end to Srafaraz’ frustration which was pretty much visible and audible from his actions and words behind the wicket. From 30/2 in seven overs, the Gladiators conceded 167 in 13 overs. In fact, they had pulled back some runs, but for the miscalculation of Sarafaraz who gave legging Zahid Mahmoddthe last over of the innings and Rovman Powell hit him for 20 runs. Among Mahmood and Delport, used as the fifth bowler, they gave away 78 runs in four overs. Miller was the highest scorer of the Zalmi with his 46 balls 73. However, Irfan with his 3/27 presented a tough battle for the Man of the Match Award, but it was eventually won by the 32-year-old Proteas man. Wahab Riaz, the skipper of the men in camouflage was happy with the performance of his team. Praising Irfan he said, “Irfan has shown attitude and intent and he is one of the best bowlers in the world. It's very hard to bowl three overs like that, he's a great guy.” “It's a great win to have and we are looking at the matches one by one hoping to make it into the playoffs,” he added. The Zalmi will be in action tomorrow, June 13 as well when they will take on Multan Sultans at the very same venue of Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Gladiators would have enough time to gather themselves and also to gauge their mathematical chances of remaining in the competition when they next face Lahore Qalandars on June 15.