PSL 2020: Match 18, Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators – Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips-Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Match Details:

The 18th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 will be played between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

The match will start at 7:00 PM local time (2:00 PM GMT) (7:30 PM IST). This match will be live on DSport in India.

Preview for Dream11 Fantasy

The caravan of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League rolls on and the 18th game will see 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi lock horns with the defending champions Quetta Gladiators on Thursday.

Peshawar Zalmi has been hogging headlines for all the wrong reasons after they ‘rested’ regular skipper Darren Sammy from their last fixture against Karachi Kings. The decision to ‘rest’ Sammy didn’t pay any dividend though as the former champions went down to the Kings after they failed to defend their total of 8-151.

Quetta Gladiators, on the other hand, were blown away in their last fixture courtesy whirlwind knocks from Ben Dunk (93 off 43 balls) and Samit Patel- 71 off 40 balls. The Gladiators couldn’t really get going in their chase of 210 and despite Ben Cutting’s 27-ball 53, fell 37-run short of the target.

Weather Condition/Report

Rain is set to be the order of the day in Rawalpindi on Thursday if the weather reports are to be believed. According to the report, the temperature is set to fluctuate between 13-19 degrees Celsius while the humidity is set to hover around 80%. Chances of rain- 80℅

Pitch Condition/Report:

The pitch in Rawalpindi has offered a great balance between the bat and the ball. While teams have found a way to score in excess of 180, the bowlers have also chipped-in, as Lewis Gregory did for Peshawar in a rain-curtailed fixture against Lahore Qalandars. Thursday is expected to be a wet day and the fast bowlers may come into play.

Average first innings score: 163 (In 4 T20I played at the venue this season)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 3, Lost – 1

Injury and Availability News

Darren Sammy was rested from the last game and there is no update as of now, whether he’ll feature in Thursday’s encounter.

Probable Playing XIs

Peshawar Zalmi:

Kamran Akmal, Tom Banton (WK), Haider Ali, Mohammad Mohsin, Liam Livingstone, Shoaib Malik, Lewis Gregory, Carlos Brathwaite,  Wahab Riaz (C), Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali

Bench – Liam Dawson, Imam-ul-Haq, Adil Amin, Umar Amin, Aamir Ali, Darren Sammy

Quetta Gladiators:

Shane Watson, Jason Roy, Ahsan Ali, Azam Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK),  Ben Cutting, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Fawad Ahmed, Naseem Shah.

Bench –Ahmed Shehzad, Abdul Nasir, Keemo Paul, Aatish Ali, Zahid Mehmood, Khurram Manzoor, Tymal Mills, Sohail Khan

Top Picks: 

Peshawar Zalmi- Shoaib Malik (68), Lewis Gregory (25) and Liam Livingstone (25) were the spearheads of the Zalmi batting unit against Karachi, after the likes of Kamran Akmal, Tom Banton failed to come with the goods; something they’ll hope isn’t the case on Thursday. Akmal scored a whirlwind 101, the last time these two sides played in the PSL.

Barring Yasir Shah (2-28) and to an extent Carlos Brathwaite (1-13 in 2 overs), none of the bowlers in Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz could make any impact against Karachi. Lewis Gregory has chipped-in with performances with both bat and ball at various stages of the tournament, and he could turn out to be the X-factor.

Quetta Gladiators: With scores of 73 and 50 against Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, Jason Roy has already shown what he is capable of, in the ongoing PSL while Shane Watson too has chipped in with a whirlwind 80 against Multan Sultans. But Quetta will hope that both fire in unison against Zalmi.

Ben Cutting is in whirlwind form, having racked up 129 runs at a strike-rate of 189.70, and will once again prove to be crucial in the death overs. Cutting has also taken 7 wickets thus far and he could very well turn out to be Quetta’s X-factor. As far as bowling is concerned, Mohammad Hasnain (10 wickets at 17.8) will lead the pack alongside Naseem Shah.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain – Kamran Akmal, Ben Cutting, Jason Roy

Vice-Captain – Shane Watson, Shoaib Malik, Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Kamran Akmal (VC)

Batsmen –  Shane Watson, Haider Ali, Jason Roy

All-Rounders-  Shoaib Malik, Lewis Gregory, Ben Cutting (C), Mohammad Nawaz

Bowlers- Naseem Shah, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Hasnain

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Sarfaraz Ahmed, Tom Banton

Batsmen –  Shane Watson (C), Liam Livingstone, Haider Ali, Jason Roy

All-Rounders-  Mohammad Nawaz, Lewis Gregory (VC)

Bowlers- Fawad Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hasnain

Experts Advice

Ben Cutting has been in brilliant form with both bat as well as with the ball in the tournament thus far. Hence, opting for him in fantasy XI could be an ideal punt.

Kamran Akmal scored a whirlwind 101 against Quetta in the last encounter. He could be another prudent choice in your fantasy XI.

Probable Winners

Quetta Gladiators are expected to come out as winners.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.