PSL 2020, Match 22, Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United, Preview – Shan Masood and Co. hope to take revenge of their previous defeat against United

Multan Sultans are currently the table toppers in PSL 2020.

Published - 07 Mar 2020, 16:34 IST | Updated - 07 Mar 2020, 16:34 IST

3 Min Read

Islamabad United looks pretty much on track in the fifth edition of Pakistan Super League. They have won three games out of their seven and are currently on the second position in the league table. They have all their bases covered with all their players performing in their top-notch form.

The presence of players like Luke Ronchi, Colin Munro and Shoaib Malik makes them the favourite to win against any team. Now, in the upcoming game, they are going to lock horns with a strong side of Multan Sultans, who are currently leading the charts with nine points.

Earlier this season when these two teams came face to face at that time United won that match with sheer dominance. They defeated Sultans by a margin of eight wickets. In that game, Luke Ronchi and Colin Munro scored brilliant fifties that helped their side in registering an emphatic win.

Sultans managed to score 164 runs for a loss of eight wickets. But, it was easily chased by United in 16.4 overs. In the end, Ronchi was awarded Man of the Match for his valuable contribution with the bat in that game.

Now, it will be an interesting thing to watch of Sultans, who suffered their only defeat in this season against Sultans, will successfully avenge the loss of their previous defeat. At the moment, Multan Sultans have registered three consecutive wins with one getting abandoned out of their last four games. They look well settled and it is going to be an uphill task for Islamabad United to outclass Shadab Khan and Co.

Team Combination

Multan Sultans

The chances are very slim that Multan Sultans will look to tinker their winning team combination. For them, Zeeshan Ashraf and James Vince will open the innings followed by Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood and Moeen Ali in the middle order. Even Khushdil Shah and Sohail Tanvir can also go for big strikes when needed in the game. On the other hand, they have a streamlined bowling unit that comprises of Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Irfan and Imran Tahir, who can restrict the opponent from posting a big total on the scoreboard.

Probable XI: Zeeshan Ashraf (wk), James Vince, Shan Masood (c), Moeen Ali, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Bilawal Bhatti, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Irfan.

Islamabad United

There is no doubt over the fact that Luke Ronchi and Colin Munro have done their job brilliantly as openers of the team in this season of PSL. In middle, they have Shadab Khan, Colin Ingram, who have recorded at least one fifty-plus score in 50 plus score in PSL 2020. Their sublime hitting is like icing on the cake. In bowling, they have experienced Dale Steyn, Rumman Raees, Zafar Gohar and Akif Javed, who will be having the responsibility to restrict the opponent on a lowly score.

Probable XI: Luke Ronchi (wk), Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Rizwan Hussain, Colin Ingram, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Akif Javed, Dale Steyn, Rumman Raees

The focus will be on

Luke Ronchi (Islamabad United)

Luke Ronchi is playing in really good form with the bat. So far he has done his job quite impressively due to which his side has managed to reap some good results in this season of the T20 tournament. He is currently the leading runscorer in PSL 2020 with 248 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 155. If he managed to click a good knock with the bat then the chances of Islamabad United winning the game will be quite high.

Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans)

Rilee Rossouw, the left-hander is in red hot form with the bat. He recently scored blistering 44-ball ton that helped his side in winning that encounter with sheer dominance. He is a lone warrior from his team, who is consistently scoring bundle of runs with his willow.

Rossouw has mustered 189 runs in six games with the help of one ton with an amazing strike rate of 154.91. One big knock from his bat can finish the game in the favour of his team Multan Sultans and it will be interesting to watch if he can do so or not against Islamabad United.