The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Pakistan, consisting of six franchise teams representing different cities in the country. Since its inception in 2016, the PSL has produced some spectacular performances, including several centuries by individual players. In this article, we will take a closer look at the centurions of Pakistan Super League and their record-breaking innings.
Centurions of Pakistan Super League
Sharjeel Khan
Sharjeel Khan’s blistering century in the inaugural season of PSL was a statement of intent for the left-handed opener. Playing for Islamabad United, Sharjeel smashed 117 off just 62 balls against Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai, including 12 fours and 8 sixes. His century helped United post a mammoth total of 176/3, which they defended successfully to win the match by 50 runs. Sharjeel’s innings also earned him the man of the match award and a place in the record books as the first-ever centurion in PSL history.
Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal’s century against Karachi Kings in the 2017 season of PSL was a masterclass in T20 batting. Batting first for Peshawar Zalmi, Akmal scored 104 off 65 balls, including 6 fours and 7 sixes. He was particularly severe on the Kings’ spinners, hitting them for sixes at will. Akmal’s century helped Zalmi post a formidable total of 181/3, which they defended successfully to win the match by 24 runs. Akmal was named man of the match for his match-winning innings.
Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal’s second century in PSL came in the 2018 season, again for Peshawar Zalmi. Batting first against Lahore Qalandars in Sharjah, Akmal scored an unbeaten 107 off 61 balls, including 11 fours and 7 sixes. His century helped Zalmi post a massive total of 176/3, while chasing173 successfully to win the match by 7 wickets. Akmal’s innings was once again named the man of the match, and he became the first player to score two centuries in PSL history.
Colin Ingram
Colin Ingram’s century for Karachi Kings in the 2019 season of PSL was a sublime innings of power and finesse. Batting second against Quetta Gladiators in Sharjah, Ingram scored an unbeaten 127 off just 59 balls, including 12 fours and 8 sixes. His century helped Kings post a mammoth total of 188/6, which they chased successfully to win the match by 6 wickets. Ingram’s innings was named the man of the match, and he broke several records, including the highest individual score in PSL history.
Cameron Delport
Cameron Delport’s century for Islamabad United in the 2019 season of PSL was a brutal display of power-hitting. He scored his first and only century in the PSL in the 2019 season, playing against Lahore Qalandars in Karachi. In that match, Delport remained unbeaten on 117 off 60 balls, with a strike rate of 195.00. He hit 13 boundaries and 6 sixes during his knock, helping his team to a mammoth total of 238/3 in their 20 overs. Islamabad United won the match by 49 runs, and Delport was named the player of the match for his outstanding performance.
Kamran Akmal
He is the only player to have scored three centuries in the tournament. His third century came in the 2018 season, playing against Lahore Qalandars in Sharjah. Akmal remained unbeaten on 107 off 61 balls, with a strike rate of 175.40. He hit 11 boundaries and 7 sixes during his knock.
Rilee Rossouw
Rilee Rossouw, a South African batsman who plays for Multan Sultans, is the sixth player to score a century in the PSL. He scored an unbeaten 100 runs off just 44 balls, including 10 fours and 6 sixes, at a strike rate of 227.27. Rossouw achieved this feat while playing against Quetta Gladiators in Multan in the 2020 edition of the tournament. Rossouw’s quickfire century helped his team set a massive target of 200 runs and win the match by 30 runs.
Chris Lynn
Chris Lynn, the hard-hitting Australian batsman who played for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, scored an unbeaten 113 runs off just 55 balls, including 12 fours and 8 sixes, at a strike rate of 205.45. He achieved this feat against Multan Sultans in Lahore during the 2020 edition of the tournament. Lynn’s innings helped his team chase down a target of 187 runs comfortably and win the match by 9 wickets.
Sharjeel Khan
Sharjeel Khan, the Pakistani left-handed opener who plays for Karachi Kings, scored his second century in the PSL in 2021 against Islamabad United. He scored 105 runs off 59 balls, including 9 fours and 8 sixes, at a strike rate of 177.96. Sharjeel’s quickfire century helped his team compile 197 runs while and win the match by 5 wickets.
Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja is an Australian cricketer who represented Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. He scored his first and only century in the PSL in the 2021 season, playing against Peshawar Zalmi in Abu Dhabi. Khawaja remained unbeaten on 105 off 56 balls, with a strike rate of 187.50. He hit 13 boundaries and 3 sixes during his knock. Khawaja was named the player of the match for his excellent batting display. Khawaja’s century was crucial in securing the victory for his team, and it remains one of the standout performances of the 2021 PSL season.
Fakhar Zaman
Fakhar Zaman is a name that has become synonymous with the Lahore Qalandars, as he has been their leading run-scorer in the PSL since the beginning of the league. His century against the Karachi Kings in PSL 2022 was a treat to watch, as he played some delightful shots all around the ground. His innings of 106 runs came off just 60 balls and included 12 fours and 4 sixes.
Jason Roy
The Gladiators’ opening batsman, Jason Roy, is known for his aggressive style of play, and he did not disappoint in PSL 2022 when he scored his maiden century in the league becoming one of the centurions of Pakistan Super League. Roy’s unbeaten 116 runs came off just 57 balls and included 11 fours and 8 sixes.
Harry Brook
the young English batsman who plays for the Qalandars, scored his first century in the PSL in February 2022. He remained unbeaten on 102 runs off just 49 balls, hitting 10 fours and 5 sixes. Brook played some breathtaking shots during his innings and was awarded the player of the match award for his outstanding performance.
Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill, the New Zealand opener, is one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket, and he showed his class in PSL 2023 when he scored his first century in the league. Guptill’s 117 runs came off just 67 balls and included 12 fours and 5 sixes. His innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he made the Kings’ bowling attack look ordinary. While defending 169, Gladiators won that match by six runs.
Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan is the latest addition to the list of PSL centurions, as he scored an unbeaten 110 runs off just 64 balls against the Karachi Kings in PSL 2023. Rizwan’s innings was a mix of elegance and power, as he hit 10 fours and 4 sixes to guide Sultans to 196.
PSL has witnessed some outstanding performances over the years, with several players scoring centuries to their names. From Sharjeel Khan to Mohammad Rizwan, these players have shown their class and ability to perform under pressure. As the league progresses, fans can expect more such performances from the players, making the PSL an exciting and entertaining tournament to watch.
