As the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 season enters its final stages, cricket fans around the world eagerly await the first eliminator match between Islamabad United (ISL) and Peshawar Zalmi (PES). The match will be played on March 16, 2023, at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. The winner of this match will progress to the second eliminator, while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.
ISL finished third in the league standings, having secured 12 points from their 10 matches. PES, on the other hand, finished fourth, having secured 10 points from their 12 matches. However, PES will be buoyed by the fact that they defeated ISL in their previous encounter, thanks to a brilliant bowling display that restricted their opponents to just 166 runs.
PES’s Mohammad Haris was the star performer of the match, scoring an impressive 67 runs to help his team post a total of 179 runs. Khurram Shahzad, Sufiyan Muqeem, and James Neesham then combined to take 8 wickets between them, effectively snuffing out ISL’s challenge.
As both teams prepare to face each other once again, they will be aware that there is no room for error. The pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium is expected to be batsman-friendly, and a total of over 160 runs should be considered par for the course. The team batting first will, therefore, be under pressure to put up a big total on the scoreboard.
PSL 2023 IU vs PZ Prediction and Preview
Looking at the probable playing XIs for both teams, it appears that PES has a slight edge over ISL. PES’s batting lineup boasts the likes of Babar Azam, Dasun Shanaka, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who have all been in good form throughout the tournament. PES also has a strong bowling attack led by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Wahab Riaz, who will be looking to replicate their performance from the previous match against ISL.
ISL, meanwhile, will be relying on their top-order batsmen Alex Hales, Colin Munro, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to get them off to a good start. Shadab Khan, the team’s captain, will be hoping to lead by example with both bat and ball. Hasan Ali and Fazalhaq Farooqi will be tasked with leading ISL’s bowling attack.
In terms of individual performances, Babar Azam is the standout player for PES. The captain has been in sensational form throughout the tournament, scoring over 400 runs at an average of 57. Azam will be the key player for PES, and if he can get going, ISL’s bowlers will be in for a tough time.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, on the other hand, has been the standout performer for ISL with the ball. The 22-year-old has taken 10 wickets in just 5 matches, and his ability to swing the ball both ways could prove to be crucial in the match against PES.
PSL 2023 IU vs PZ Prediction and Preview
As for the prediction, it is a tough call to make. Both teams are evenly matched, and the outcome of the match could go either way. However, considering Islamabad United’s recent form and their strong batting and bowling lineups, they are slight favorites to win the match and progress to the second eliminator. That being said, cricket is a game of uncertainties, and anything can happen on the day.
In conclusion, the first eliminator match between ISL and PES promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams vying for a place in the second eliminator. The match will be closely contested, and fans are looking forward to it.
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