ISLAMABAD, Mar 09 (APP):Peshawar Zalmi Skipper Babar Azam feels not up to mark bowling cost them the game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8 against Quetta Gladiators.
Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators added another classic to their epic rivalry on late Wednesday as the latter chased down a towering 241-run target with eight wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare at the Pindi Stadium.
In a match that saw 483 runs being scored – the highest run aggregate for an HBL Pakistan Super League match – records tumbled regularly.
Some were broken in the run chase after only being made in the first innings.
For example, Babar Azam’s record for most fours in an HBL PSL innings (15) lasted less than two hours as Jason Roy clubbed 20 fours in the run chase.
“You feel disappointed when you lose after scoring 200 runs. Jason Roy should be given the credit for his outstanding display.
Our bowling was not up to the mark and we couldn’t execute the game plan as we wanted too,” he said in a presser after the end of the game on late Wednesday.
The prolific batter said the wicket in Rawalpindi was also a batting one. “But the wicket here also supports the bowlers. The upcoming next two matches were very crucial for us. We will try to score 280 runs in the next match.”
He said the team we played was the best. “You always go with the winning combination and this team has won us matches in the past. Salman Arshad performed very well for Zalmi last year but his performance was not the same in this edition.
So we have to rest a player, so that he can sit back and regain his form.”
To a question, he said it was his wish to score a century in PSL and he did but it would have been better if Islamabad had won.
About Saim Ayub who scored (74 off 34), he said the way he’s playing throughout the tournament it is outstanding and he was improving his batting with every game.
“He is improving day by day and I’m keeping an eye on all performing youngsters in the league. It is good for Pakistan that many players will come up. The more they will play they would get batter.
Gladiators opener Jason Roy said it was his best innings in T20 cricket. “I was all the way till the end which is an incredible feeling as an opener. This innings will go on down to me as the greatest. This is my best T20 innings ever.
It will definitely live long time in my memory. I’m feeling on top of the world.”
On Babar Azam and Saim Ayub’s innings he said, “That was incredible to watch; unfortunately, it was against us.
I mean, it is the sort of stuff I watch on TV loads of times, with Babar the way he plays. I think that was his eighth hundred, and to watch it first-hand, it was extremely special, and he is a beautiful player to watch. And he was helped extremely well from the other end with his opening partner (Saim), the youngster coming through.”