The Cricketer considered the stand-out displays from another week in Pakistan as the knock-out stage already starts taking shape
Islamabad United might be struggling to reach the knock-out phase but the New Zealander was in fine form over the past week. He struck a fine unbeaten 87 in the victory over Lahore Qalandars, with 11 boundaries in all. He added what was a third half-century of the competition thus far against Peshawar Zalmi, though it was not enough to secure victory. Only three players have more runs in the tournament than Munro.
The Hampshire man produced a quite remarkable innings as Multan Sultans booked their place in the playoffs victory with a nine-wicket win over Islamabad. The nine-over game meant throwing caution to the wind was necessary and Vince obliged with a destructive knock. He dispatched Akif Javed for five successive fours in one particular over with his flashing blade earning him 61 from just 24 balls.
The Hillingdon-born right-hander continues to make things difficult for Eoin Morgan and the England selectors after recording his third half-century of the competition and fifth in his last eight T20 innings. Earlier in the week, he hammered 49 before being outwitted by Yasir Shah but he followed it up with 80 not out, with six fours and five sixes.
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The Qalandars man played one of the most remarkable innings in PSL history. The 32-year-old, who was chewing gum and blowing bubbles throughout his innings, battered 12 sixes during his 40-ball 99 to help his side to victory with five balls to spare. Even though the boundaries have been shortened in the PSL, many of the Aussie's efforts would have cleared the rope at any ground in the world. That all after he'd gone at a strike-rate of 216.27 in scoring 93 against Quetta Gladiators earlier in the week. It was a truly incredible performance.
A bit of everything from the Pakistan allrounder this week while turning out for Islamabad United. He claimed 2-21 to pin back Qalandars in an easy victory, dismissing Dunk and Samit Patel. The skipper then scooped the man-of-the-match award with a spellbinding 77 to help Islamabad set a decent total against Zalmi, before a narrow defeat - a knock which won him the player of the match prize.
Samit Patel had a week to remember in the PSL
The 38-year-old barely has to turn the clock back these days to find memories of his fine displays. He kick-started the week with an effective, if not particularly explosive 68 from 55 deliveries to help give something for Zalmi to defend against Karachi Kings. Shoaib backed that up with a totally different innings full of panache with a fine 54 at a strike-rate of 200, which was good enough to beat Gladiators on this occasion
What a few days for the Nottinghamshire allrounder. Patel starred in both disciplines for Qalandars, striking a blistering 71 from 40 balls while putting on 155 with Dunk. Though it would seem difficult to top that display the 35-year-old did just that, taking 4-5, the best figures of the competition so far, to leave Gladiators in pieces. He had the ball turning square at times, with the delivery that got Jason Roy the outstanding highlight.
Once Patel had had his way with Gladiators it was always going to be difficult to stem the flow in the chase but Mohammad Nawaz performed as well as it was possible to do so. While Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez and Dunk were teeing off at one end, Nawaz was bowling with skill to finish with figures of 3-0-9-2. One of few men to emerge from an eight-wicket defeat with some credit.
Mohammad Amir was back to his best
It hasn't been a competition for the fast-bowler but it says plenty about Amir's class that he was able to chime in with 4-25 against Zalmi. We saw two sides to the left-armer. With the new nut, he targetting the stumps exclusively, getting rid of Tom Banton first ball and then Haider Ali. At the death, he mixed things up and his variations in pace did for Lewis Gregory and Carlos Brathwaite. It was a perfect exhibition in fast-bowling.
A 24-year-old with a wafer-thin senior career burst on the scene with 4-30 as Qalandars eased by Gladiators. The right-armer was second change but his patience was rewarded in the middle overs and at the death. He got Azam Khan just before he got going before some full yorkers got rid of Ben Cutting, Fawad Ahmed and Nassem Shah.
Had Sarafraz Ahmed deployed Hasnain more shrewdly perhaps Gladiators might have been celebrating victory over Zalmi. The teenager took 4-34, three of which came in the middle order but he was bowled out with two to go in the rain-reduced match. Saw off the dangerous Kamran Akmal as well as Haider Ali. The damage had largely been done by the time Shoaib Malik and Liam Livingstone had been seen off but nonetheless it was still a fine display with the ball.
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