The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is in its 9th season now. In the past four years, there have been some amazing games and performances. The first PSL took place in 2016 with five teams. Islamabad United won the title that year, beating Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, and Lahore Qalandars.
In 2018, Multan Sultans joined the league and finished fifth in their debut season. Since then, Islamabad United has won another title, and Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators have each won their first titles.
So, which matches have been the most exciting and helped the PSL become a top T20 league?
Let’s look at five of the best games in PSL history.
5. Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars, March 9th 2019
The only one-sided game on this list was between Islamabad United, the most successful team in PSL history, and Lahore Qalandars, the least successful team. It was the first big match in Karachi for a while, and the crowd went crazy when PSL star Luke Ronchi was out on the first ball. But that was the only exciting moment for the Qalandars.
Cameron Delport, usually a backup for Ronchi, played a fantastic innings with great shots, easily handling the Qalandars’ bowlers. He teamed up with Chadwick Walton to score a century, finishing with 117 runs off 60 balls. Asif Ali added a quick 55* off 21 balls. Islamabad United ended with a huge total of 238-3. Shaheen Afridi’s 1-62 from four overs was the most expensive bowling spell in PSL history.
The Qalandars tried to improve their score, but Faheem Ashraf bowled incredibly well, taking 6 wickets for just 19 runs. This was the second-best bowling performance in PSL history, behind Ravi Bopara’s 6-16 in 2016. The Qalandars ended their innings at 189-9, mainly thanks to Sohail Akhtar’s 75 from 34 balls.
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4. Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi, February 28th 2017
In a surprising turn, Quetta Gladiators narrowly defeated Peshawar Zalmi by just one run in the Qualifier for the second year in a row. Last year, Quetta won with Kevin Pietersen’s fifty and Aizaz Cheema’s tight final overs. This year’s match was similarly close but unfolded differently.
Pietersen again helped Quetta score quickly, but it was Ahmed Shehzad’s excellent 71 off 38 balls and Anwar Ali’s late runs that helped Quetta reach 200-7, setting a tough target for Peshawar. Despite early wickets of Kamran Akmal and Marlon Samuels, Dawid Malan and Mohammad Hafeez scored fifties, keeping Peshawar in the game despite strong bowling by Anwar Ali and Tymal Mills.
When Hafeez was out for 77 off 47 balls, Peshawar needed 59 runs from 37 balls. Shahid Afridi, who had just come in, played a quick 34 off 13 balls, bringing Peshawar close to victory. They needed 7 runs from the last over, and an unexpected twist was about to happen.
Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed chose to bowl off-spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who had been costly earlier. Sammy hit a boundary, then Chris Jordan faced two balls to get the remaining runs.
Peshawar seemed set for victory, eager to avenge last season’s loss, but a catch and two run-outs ended their chances. Quetta advanced to the final, leaving Peshawar stunned.
3. Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, March 10th 2019
Ahmed Shehzad played well but ended up on the losing side. On a good pitch in Karachi, the home team performed strongly with Babar Azam, Colin Munro, and Colin Ingram leading the way. They set a target of 190-5, with Iftikhar Ahmed hitting hard and the Quetta bowlers struggling, allowing about 8-9 runs per over.
Shane Watson and Umar Akmal scored quickly, and Umer Khan took three wickets, making the match even at the halfway point. Ahmed Shehzad from Quetta kept battling, scoring 99 off 56 balls with some big shots and stylish play. He fell just short of a hundred when Colin Ingram took a great catch, leaving Quetta needing four runs to win.
In the final over, Shinwari had already conceded almost 14 runs per over without taking a wicket. Despite the pressure, he got his second wicket in a row by dismissing Anwar Ali. With Quetta in a panic, Shinwari got Sarfaraz Ahmed out on the hat-trick ball, causing wild celebrations in the crowd.
Quetta needed three runs from the last ball, but Sohail Tanvir couldn’t score, and Karachi won by just one run.
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2. Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi, February 12th 2017
In the 2017 PSL, Peshawar Zalmi played an amazing T20 match against Lahore Qalandars. Lahore’s strong batting team was knocked out by Peshawar’s bowlers, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Asghar. They got rid of Jason Roy and captain Brendon McCullum early. Hasan also dismissed the dangerous Umar Akmal and Grant Elliot, with Darren Sammy taking a great catch to dismiss Elliot.
Fakhar Zaman scored 33 off 19 balls despite the other batsmen losing their wickets. He was eventually out to Chris Jordan. Mohammad Rizwan was the only other player to score in double figures. The rest of the team was out for just 59 runs.
During Peshawar’s chase, Sunil Narine quickly took out Hafeez, Malan, and Sohail Tanvir.
In the 12th over, Yasir Shah changed the game when Zalmi needed 13 runs from 54 balls with six wickets left. Sohaib Maqsood was out after a great catch by McCullum, and Eoin Morgan was wrongly given out to a catch by Fakhar Zaman.
A wrong delivery also dismissed Darren Sammy, leaving Zalmi with seven wickets down for only 51 runs. But Wahab Riaz and Chris Jordan managed to score the last nine runs in 22 balls, avoiding a shocking defeat.
1. Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars, March 2nd 2018
This match highlights the first four years of the Pakistan Super League perfectly. Lahore Qalandars, needing a win against top team Islamabad, made a strong start. Fakhar Zaman’s surprising new-ball spell removed key batsmen, while Sohail Khan and others helped restrict Islamabad to 121-9.
Despite early wickets, Agha Salman and Brendon McCullum put Lahore in a good position. Salman’s dismissal left Lahore needing 45 runs from 52 balls with McCullum still batting. Late wickets and a close finish led to a Super Over.
In the Super Over, Lahore scored 15 runs. Mustafizur Rahman bowled for Lahore, but Andre Russell’s crucial sixes secured a thrilling win for Islamabad.
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