Roy deserves 50 percent credit for winning the match: Babar

Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam has heaped praise on Quetta Gladiators’ opener Jason Roy after the latter played a belligerent knock during Wednesday’s match between the two sides in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

Azam’s side lost the match despite setting a target of 241 runs with Roy scoring 145 runs in 63 balls.

"I think when you lose after scoring 240 it is always disappointing, but the way Jason Roy played, he changed the whole match and credit should be given to him. But I think our bowling wasn't up to the mark, our plans weren't executed but I would say that 50% credit goes to him and 50% we didn't bowl well," said Babar in a post-match presser.

"I think we applied a lot of different field settings but the way he played, and wherever we bowled, he scored runs. But I think that was an outstanding knock,” he added.

"Look, we always know that Pindi is a good surface for batting, but when you bowl well, bowlers do get help. In the last match, the way our bowlers bowled, it didn't seem like it is Pindi's surface, there was more bounce in it.

"But I think when there is a counter-attack, as a bowler and as a team you go on the back foot and this is what he did. 240 is not an easy target in T20s and this was their planning. As a professional you should be ready, he played an extraordinary knock but we made mistakes as well.”

Babar also replied to a question about whether an additional spinner would have proved beneficial in countering Quetta's top-order.

"I think we played our best side, we won the last match with the same side. These are the bowlers who won us the last game, this is cricket and has its ups and downs, sometimes you'll do good and bad. I think it is important for us to stay united and learn from our mistakes,” he concluded. 

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