Top Five Best Innings Of Pakistan Super League

The league started with five teams - Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, and Quetta Gladiators. Multan Sultans made its entry in 2018. The league has quite a few similarities with the Indian T20 League (ITL). Like ITL, a maximum of four foreign players are allowed in the playing XI in each team. The tournament is played in the double round-robin format just like the Indian T20 extravaganza. The playoff format in both leagues is the same.

However, there are a few differences between the two. The players' services are acquired by drafting in the PSL as opposed to the auction system in the ITL. The players are retained in Gold, Diamond, and Platinum categories ahead of the player drafting in PSL, whereas there are no such categories in ITL. In this article, we will discuss the top five innings in the history of the tournament.

Top Five Best Innings Of Pakistan Super League

Kevin Pietersen (Quetta Gladiators)

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen played an innings of unbeaten 88 runs off 42 balls against Lahore Qalandars in the 11th game of the PSL 2017. Batting first, Lahore amassed exactly 200/3, thanks to Jason Roy (51), Fakhar Zaman (47), Mohammad Rizwan (46*), and Cameron Delport (35*). In reply, Quetta chased down the target with seven balls and five wickets to spare. Pietersen hit eight sixes and three fours at a strike rate of 209.52. This innings can be considered as one of the best in the PSL as it helped the team chase down a massive target after losing two wickets for 24 runs.

2. Umar Akmal (Lahore Qalandars)

Former Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal played a blinder of an innings against Quetta Gladiators in the eighth match of the PSL 2016. At one stage, Qalandars were struggling 62/1 in 10 overs. He came into the crease after the departure of skipper Azhar Ali. The right-hander's explosive innings of 93 runs off 40 balls included six boundaries and eight hits over the ropes. This innings helped the Men In Lime amass 194/3 in 20 overs. The Azhar Ali-led side won the game by 63 runs.

 Ben Dunk (Lahore Qalandars)

Another player from Lahore Qalandars has made it to the list. This time, it is Aussie wicketkeeper, Ben Dunk. He played an innings of 99 not out with three fours and whopping 12 sixes in just 40 balls. This innings came against Karachi Kings in the PSL 2020. Batting first, Kings amassed 187/5, thanks to Alex Hales (80*) and Chadwick Walton (45). In reply, Qalandars chased down the target in just 19.1 overs. Dunk came into bat when his side was struggling at 50/2 in 8.2 overs and took the game away from the opposition.

4. Colin Ingram (Karachi Kings)

This is the first time a centurion has made it to the list. Colin Ingram played an innings of 127* off just 59 balls with 12 fours and eight sixes. This innings came against Quetta Gladiators in 2019. Batting first, Gladiators amassed 186/5 in 20 overs. In reply, the Kings were tottering at 4/2 when Ingram came to bat. The left-hander took the game away as his side chased down the target with eight balls to spare.

5. Kamran Akmal (Peshawar Zalmi)

The Pakistani veteran has also made it to the list. Notoriously famous for dropping catches as a keeper, his batting credentials are still unmatched by many in Pakistan. He played an innings of 77 runs in just 27 balls against Karachi Kings in the second eliminator of the PSL 2018. The right-hander hit eight sixes and five fours and helped his side post a total of 170/7 in a 16-over game. Zalmi went on to win the game by 13 runs.