Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators, Pakistan Super League 2020, Today Match Prediction 27 Feb 2020

isu vs qtg Match Prediction & Analysis

Defending Champions Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United will fight it out for a top spot in the competition in the 9th match of 2020 Pakistan Super League at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Islamabad United have managed to register two wins in a row and will be keen to continue their winning momentum against Quetta Gladiators. Captain Shadab Khan delivered a splendid performance with bat and ball to help Islamabad United eke out a close win over Lahore Qalandars.

Quetta Gladiators, оn the other hand, made a strong comeback in the competition and managed to beat Karachi Kings, courtesy splendid batting performances from Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azam Khan. In the previous meeting between the two teams, Quetta Gladiators registered a three-wicket win.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Islamabad United Preview

Two-time PSL Champions will not make any changes to their playing XI for this game. Shadab Khan really stamped his authority as a captain in the game played against Lahore Qalandars. Shadab Khan was the standout bowler for the side in the game against Lahore. He produced a splendid bowling performance and finished with figures of 2 for 14 in his four overs.

Pacer Mohammad Musa, Faheem Ashraf and Amad Butt conceded a lot of the runs against Lahore Qalandars. With the cooler conditions expected at Rawalpindi, the bowlers will be hoping to find some lateral movement off the pitch. Rookie Ahmed Safi Abdullah bowled well and picked up the wicket of Sohail Akhter. Chasing 183 runs, openers Luke Ronchi and Colin Munro perished in the initial overs of the innings to see Lahore Qalandars take control of the game.

Promoted to no.4 in the batting order, Shadab Khan played well and put on a 57-run partnership with Dawid Malan to lead the fightback for Islamabad. Dawid Malan looked good with the bat and scored 22 runs off 22 balls with the help of three boundaries. Surprisingly, Shadab Khan was the standout performer with the bat for Islamabad United. He played well and finished the innings with the top-score of 52 runs off 29 balls with the help of three fours and four sixes.

Middle-order batsman Colin Munro chipped in with crucial innings of 30 runs off 14 balls with the help of one four and three sixes. Tail-ender Mohammad Musa produced a crucial cameo to help Islamabad United complete the chase in the final overs of the innings. He scored 17 not out off 11 balls with the help of two fours and one six.

Islamabad United Predicted Playing XI:

Shadab Khan (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Luke Ronchi (wk), Dawid Malan, Colin Ingram, Colin Munro, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Amad Butt, Muhammad Musa, Ahmed Safi Abdullah

Islamabad United Actual Playing XI:

Amad Butt, Luke Ronchi, Colin Munro, Faheem Ashraf, Colin Ingram, Rumman Raees, Asif Ali, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Dawid Malan

Quetta Gladiators Preview

Defending Champions will be looking to maintain their standards with the bat and ball against Islamabad United. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed once again came to his side’s rescue and produced splendid innings against Karachi Kings.

In the batting department, the side will be depending on the likes of Jason Roy, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azam Khan to do the bulk of the scoring. Chasing 157 runs to win, openers Jason Roy and Shane Watson got the side off to a decent start. The duo put on a 41-run partnership for the opening wicket. Shane Watson found form with the bat against Karachi Kings and scored 27 runs off 20 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.

England’s Jason Roy has consistently produced runs for the side at the top of the innings. He has accumulated 90 runs in 3 matches at an average of 45.00.  Against Karachi King, Roy scored 17 runs off 20 balls with the help of one four.

The biggest disappointment has been the form of Ahmed Shehzad in this year’s competition. He has so far scored 30 runs at an average of 10.00.  He will need to deliver runs in order to retain his place in the playing XI. Rookie middle-order batsman Azam Khan has been the surprise package with the bat for Quetta Gladiators this season. He has delivered scintillating performances with the bat for the side. Azam is currently franchise’s leading run-scorer with 110 runs at a strike rate of 152.77. In the previous game, Azam Khan once again was involved in a match-winning partnership with skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed. The duo put on an 85-run partnership to put Gladiators in a strong position to win the match.

Azam Khan was the standout performer with the bat and finished the innings with the top-score of 46 runs off 30 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Sarfaraz Ahmed, who chipped in with 37 runs off 28 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.

On the bowling front, Gladiators will be relying on the pace trio of Sohail Khan, Tymal Mills and Mohammad Hasnain to make early inroads with the new ball. Pacer Mohammad Hasnain is currently leading wicket-taker for the side so far this season. He has claimed 7 wickets in 3 matches at an economy rate of 7.16.

Quetta Gladiators Predicted Playing XI:

Shane Watson, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Anwar Ali, Sohail Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Jason Roy, Tymal Mills, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Azam Khan

Quetta Gladiators Actual Playing XI:

Ben Cutting, Sohail Khan, TS Mills, Jason Roy, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Azam Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, SR Watson, Sarfraz Ahmed

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The wicket at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is expected to offer pace and bounce for the quick bowlers. The weather forecast for the game to be played on Thursday is going to be partly cloudy with light winds.

Venue Details

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi is going to host the 9th match of 2020 Pakistan Super League between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.

Quetta Gladiators will take heart from the fact that they won their last three matches against Islamabad United in the competition.

Toss: To Bowl

Due to day-night fixture, both the teams would be keen to bowl first and exploit the newly prepared for the game.