PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE FINAL TODAY: Quetta look to avoid Peshawar’s knockout punch

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators hope their in-form opener Shane Watson will make them third time lucky as they look to avoid another knockout punch from a spirited Peshawar Zalmi when the two teams clash in the sell-out final of the HBL Pakistan Super League at the National Stadium on Sunday (today). According to a PCB press release, the match will start at 8:00pm, but the closing ceremony will begin at 6:00pm.

Quetta have beaten Peshawar in both the league games this season, before having the better of their arch-rivals inWednesday’s Qualifier at the back of a powerful performance, but they are wary of a knockout punch from the Daren Sammy-led Peshawar. Despite beating Peshawar in the Qualifiers in 2016 and 2017 in thrilling last-over finishes by one-run, Quetta lost in the 2017 final by 58 runs in Lahore and in Eliminator 1 last year. Quetta captain Sarfaraz Ahmed hoped it will be a case of third time lucky. “We are playing the final for the third time, so we will do our all-out effort to play in the same manner which we have done in the whole tournament,” Sarfaraz told a news conference on Saturday. “If you look at the previous years, there were some factors which hurt us as some players didn’t come,” said Sarfaraz of the Lahore final when Kevin Pietersen and Rilee Rossouw were not available. Last year,Watson decided to stay away for the Eliminators in Lahore, leaving Quetta depleted. But this time Watson, who has amassed 423 runs in the tournament,made a late decision to visit Karachi.

“This time, we are at our full strength, so we will do our best to play like we have done and win the tournament.” It is befitting for the HBL Pakistan Super League final that the two most in-form teams are in the final, finishing with seven wins and three losses each in the first phase. Peshawar skipper Sammy admitted Watson has plagued his team. “ShaneWatson has really been the pain for us,” said Sammy of the former Australia opener, who has 265 runs at 66.25 in five matches against Peshawar in two years. “He is pretty experienced and he is enjoying his form.” But Sammy hoped his team will deliver another knockout punch. “Quetta have had the better of us throughout the season and I always tell my boys that everything in life happens for a reason.

If it is one time we choose to beat them, why not in the final when it really matters. Quetta have mostly chased targets and their two wins against Peshawar came by six and eight wickets, respectively before they had the better of their rivals by 10 runs in the playoff in Karachi. Sarfaraz said he was looking for a good platform from his top-order. “Watson and Umar Akmal are quality players. Watson has played well throughout the tournament and is in-form and it’s good that a top player like himis with us and we are at full strength. “We also have Rilee Rossouw, Ahsan Ali and Ahmed Shehzad, so if our top players give the platform, then we will put a good total against the opposition who have a strong bowling line-up.” Besides Watson, Umar (277 runs in 11 matches), Rossouw (256 in 10matches) and Ahmed (253 in seven) are in good nick.

Peshawar are more reliant on Kamran Akmal, who Sammy described as his “match-winner”, having knocked off 336 runs in 12 games. Fellowopener Imamul Haq has justified his selection with 338 runs in 11 matches. They put on 135 to set the platform for an imposing 214 for five against Islamabad, helping their team to a 48-run win. Peshawar also has powerful pace attack, led by tournament’s highest wicket-taker Hasan Ali who has 25 wickets in 12 matches. Experienced pacer Wahab Riaz has 16, followed by Sameen Gul (10), and Tymal Mills and Umaid Asif (seven each). But Quetta’s spinners—Mohammad Nawaz and Fawad Ahmed — make the difference with wickets in the middle overs. Peshawar are unable to accommodate their spinner Liam Dawson. Sarfaraz admitted Fawad Ahmed is doubtful after being hit on themouth in the Qualifier against Peshawar, which needed a surger