Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by two wickets in the 21st match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi today.
Chasing a target of 180 runs, United cruised home in 19.3 overs and became the second team after Lahore Qalandars to qualify for the play-offs.
Chasing runs, United already lost a wicket in the first over when Rahmanullah Garbaz (0) was dismissed by Naseem Shah.
However, Colin Munro and Alex Hales put on a 25-ball 52 to attack the Gladiators.
After a quick reflex catch by Najeebullah Zadran off Naveen-ul-Haq, the Heels were pulled back after scoring 12 runs off nine balls.
Munro, who was the dominant partner in the partnership with Hales, continued to target the Gladiators’ bowlers in all parts of the ground after being joined by skipper Shadab Khan. But with Iftikhar Ahmed and Muhammad Nawaz picking up important wickets, the pair quickly returned to the pavilion.
Munro scored 63 runs in 29 balls with the help of five fours and four sixes. During this time, Shadab could score only eight runs.
Mubaser Khan (5) and Asif Ali (6) also departed quickly as the Gladiators clawed their way back into the game.
However, Azam Khan (35 off 25) and Faheem Ashraf (39 off 31 balls) put on an important partnership of 58 runs off 44 balls to put United on the road to victory.
Despite Umeed Asif taking two wickets in the last over, United held their nerve to get over the line in the final over.
Umeed took three wickets while Nawaz took two wickets.
United had earlier been given a target of 180, opting to bowl first against the Gladiators.
At one stage it looked like United would be chasing a significantly lower target but the Gladiators staged a brilliant comeback in the second half of the innings.
Fazl-ul-Haq Farooqui trapped Will Smead – who got a golden duck – in front of the stumps in the first over.
The Afghanistan fast bowler claimed his second wicket after Yasir Khan in the third over of the innings, five runs off 11 balls, a straight one to Shadab Khan at extra cover.
Gladiators skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed’s decision to bat at number three also backfired as he was brilliantly caught by Mubaser Khan on the fence in an attempt to play a pull shot. He scored three runs and fell victim to Faheem Ashraf.
Soon after, Iftikhar Ahmed (2) also returned to the pavilion with a simple catch to Shadab at mid-on as Faheem picked up his second wicket of the match.
With the Gladiators at 17-4, Mohammad Nawaz and Najeebullah Zadran rescued their team with a brilliant hundred partnership while also scoring half-centuries.
However, Fazal Haq broke the stand in the 17th over as Nawaz was caught in the deep after scoring 52 off 44 balls.
Meanwhile, Zadran was cleaned out by Roman Raees after scoring 59 runs off 34 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes.
Umar Akmal, who was making a comeback to the team, played a blinder to provide impetus in the death overs. The right-handed batsman scored an unbeaten 43 off just 14 balls.
Quetta Gladiators, who are at the bottom of the points table, are almost out of PSL 8 as they need to win all their remaining matches and hope that other results go their way if they want to make it to the playoffs. Will come on the way.
Playing XI:
Quetta Gladiators: Yasir Khan, Will Sameed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Najeebullah Zadran, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket/c), Umar Akmal, Muhammad Nawaz, Odin Smith, Umeed Asif, Naseem Shah, Naveen Haq.
Islamabad United: Rehmanullah Garbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Azam Khan (wicket), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Mubaser Khan, Hasan Ali, Roman Raees, Fazlul Haq Farooqui.
