Pakistan Super League reaches knock-outs and Rashid Khan in thrilling tie

Cricket matches have been falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a number of Sussex players were still able to take to the field last week...

After the early departure of four overseas players due to COVID-19 concerns, Phil Salt got an overdue chance for Islamabad United in their final group game in the Pakistan Super League against Karachi Kings on Saturday. In a match they had to win to have any chance of making it to the sem-finals, United were inserted at the toss with Phil making 25 from 19 balls at the top of the order. That was his team’s second highest score as they made 136 for 6 from 20 overs.

It was Chris Jordan that took the catch to dismiss his Sussex teammate. The Kings allrounder also executed the run out of Colin Ingram and picked up the wicket of Asif Ali on his way to figures of 1 for 28 from his four overs. Later in the match, CJ was at the crease as Karachi hit the winning runs with four wickets and four balls to spare. He finished on six not out. Phil was behind the stumps for Islamabad, taking a sharp catch off the bowling of Shadab Khan to dismiss Imad Wasim.

⚡️ @PhilSalt1 ⚡️

Brilliant stuff from Salty behind the stumps for @IsbUnited! 👏pic.twitter.com/fGxg8pHsCM

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) March 15, 2020

That victory for Karachi Kings booked them a spot in the last four. Earlier in the week, they had beaten Lahore Qalandars by ten wickets. CJ was tidy with the ball, conceding just 24 runs from his four overs and taking the wicket of Samit Patel as Qalandars made 150 for 5. Batting at number seven, David Wiese contributed an unbeaten five to that total.

David’s four overs cost 38 runs as Kings openers Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam chased down the target in just 17.1 overs.

That result left the Qalandars needing a win in their final match against Multan Sultans on Sunday to secure a semi-final berth. David took 2 for 24 from three overs as Lahore batted first, including the wicket of new Sussex teammate Ravi Bopara. Ravi scored 33 off 36 balls as the Sultans scored 186 for 6.

Thanks to a 55-ball 113 not out from Chris Lynn, Lahore made light work of what initially seemed an imposing chase. They reached their target with more than an over to spare. Ravi bowled two overs for 17 runs.

The Qalandars had started the week with a win as well, overcoming Peshawar Zalmi on Tuesday. Zalmi racked up 187 for 7 batting first, with David Wiese taking 1 for 31 from three overs. The game looked up when Qalandars lost their fifth wicket still needing 28 runs from the remaining 13 balls, but David and Samit Patel combined to leave their team needing five runs from the last two balls. David then launched the penultimate ball for six to secure a thrilling win for Lahore.

What a way to win it! 🚀@David_Wiese hits a six off the penultimate ball to earn @lahoreqalandars another victory in @thePSLt20 👏 pic.twitter.com/Vu5j1FqOLN

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) March 10, 2020

Ravi Bopara was also in action earlier in the week as Multan Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi by three runs on Friday. Ravi scored five as the Sultans made 154 for 6 batting first. A disciplined bowling performance ensured that total was sufficient with Zalmi ending on 151 for 8. Despite the subsequent loss to Lahore Qalandars, that result booked Multan’s place in the semi-finals as group winners.

Ravi and CJ remain in Pakistan for Tuesday’s semis, while David Wiese has made the decision to return to South Africa early.

Rashid Khan was the other Sussex player to take the field last week. He was involved in a thrilling tie in the third and final T20I between Afghanistan and Ireland in India on Tuesday. Rashid dismissed Ireland’s top-scorer Gareth Delany as he recorded figures of 1 for 24, as well as taking two catches as Ireland posted 142 for 8 batting first. He then played a vital role with the bat, hitting 14 off six balls from number eight to lift Afghanistan to the same score as Ireland with seven wickets down. The result meant that Afghanistan took the series two-nil.

There was a scheduled week off for Travis Head and other Sheffield Shield players in Australia, but there won’t be any fixtures this week either with the final round of the competition cancelled as a result of COVID-19.