Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
After Balkh Legends’ absolute annihilation of Nangarhar Leopards yesterday, it can be very easy for the remaining two Semi-Finalists to look ahead to the Final.
Paktia Panthers and Kabul Zwanan go head-to-head for a spot in the first ever Afghanistan Premier League Final. For the neutral, a close game would be nice. For either of these two teams, getting through to the final by any means possible is the order of the day.
Who will meet with Balkh Legends in the Final?
Paktia Panthers (PP), led by the ever-entertaining Mohammad Shahzad, finished the league stage with five wins and three defeats. Finishing in second place, just a win behind Balkh Legends, was a good return for PP, but their win-loss pattern over their last five games is something to address. Against a side they beat just two days ago, PP will be out to ensure that this pattern is stopped dead in its tracks, with a big opportunity for glory awaiting.
Kabul Zwanan (KZ), led by the world class Rashid Khan, have had their good and bad moments in the tournament. Like PP, KZ possess good T20 batting talent, but have let themselves down with the ball at times throughout the tournament. A record of four wins and four losses suggests they have what it takes to get it right at the business end of the tournament. Can they deliver when it truly matters?
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Key to a Paktia Panthers win
Mohammad Shahzad sits top of the run scoring charts in APL 2018, with 343 runs at 49, with a strike rate of 175.89. In the successful chase of 169 vs KZ two days ago, Shahzad was brilliant in breaking the back of the KZ bowling effort. With the next best run scorer for PP Samiullah Shenwari with 184, Shahzad needs to continue his heroics, paving the way for the likes of Shenwari, Cameron Delport and Calum MacLeod to do their thing.
Also, PP have done pretty well on the bowling front this season. Isuru Udana sits second in the leading wicket takers chart with 15 wickets, and with a decent blend of youth and experience, can PP get regular wickets against a KZ side looking to fire?
Key to a Kabul Zwanan win
KZ possess players more prominent on the higher end of the run scoring charts than PP.
Hazratullah Zazai, fresh of hitting six sixes in an over a week ago, is second to Mohammad Shahzad in the run scoring charts in APL 2018, and will need to play a key part in KZ’s batting efforts. His T20 striking for Afghanistan against Ireland recently was something to behold, and if he’s at it again today, PP could be in for a tough evening. Like Shahzad for PP, Zazai can help enable the likes of Luke Ronchi, Colin Ingram and Laurie Evans to play their best cricket.
Also, it has been a surprisingly quiet tournament from Rashid Khan with the ball, taking five wickets in seven games. Will he burst into life at the business end of the tournament? Wayne Parnell, KZ’s leading wicket taker with nine, sits 13th in the leading wicket taker charts for APL 2018. To compete here, KZ need to produce a more cohesive bowling display.
Possible XIs
Paktia Panthers: 1. Mohammad Shahzad (c & wk), 2. Ihsanullah Janat, 3. Cameron Delport, 4. Calum MacLeod, 5. Samiullah Shenwari, 6. Fazal Rahman Zazai, 7. Shahid Afrid, 8. Takir Khan, 9. Sharafuddin Ashraf, 10. Isuru Udana, 11. Ziaq Rahman
Kabul Zwanan: 1. Luke Ronchi (wk), 2. Hazratullah Zazai, 3. Colin Ingram, 4. Asfar Zazai, 5. Laurie Evans, 6. Shawkat Zaman, 7. Shahidullah Kamal, 8. Rashid Khan (c), 9. Wayne Parnell, 10. Fareed Ahmad, 11. Zahir Shehzad
Dream11
A range of options to choose from in
Dream11. Below is my side with a few pointers.
- Mohammad Shahzad is my skipper. I love this man.
- Samiullah Shenwari, Cameron Delport, Laurie Evans and Hazratullah Zazai all have batting potential.
- Rashid Khan is a dangerous T20 player, and S Kamal has proven to be a good value purchase this season.
Stats and Facts
- Batsmen from these two sides top the run scoring charts in APL 2018 (Mohammad Shahzad 343 and Hazratullah Zazai 288).
- Isuru Udana sits second on the wicket taking charts with 15.
- PP finished second with a NRR of +0.138. KZ enter the finals with a negative NRR in the league stage (-0.070).
Prediction
Who will meet BL in the Final?
I will say PP, because of their better bowling and batting stocks. On the day, you can expect them to deliver a more cohesive, consistent performance.
Thanks for reading!
P.S.,
looking to improve your game or replicate your heroes? Claim discounts on any of 700+ cricket items at onlinecricstore.com with a
single code! Find out more
here!
