Sports Report
RAWALPINDI: Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by 2 wickets in their match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023.
Islamabad achieved the 180-run target in 19.3 overs.
During the run-chase, Islamabad lost a wicket in the first over when Naseem Shah dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz on a golden duck.
However, Colin Munro and Alex Hales took the attack to Quetta by adding 52 runs in 25 deliveries.
Hales went back to the hut after scoring 12 runs in 9 balls after a sharp reflex catch by Najibullah Zadran on the bowling of Naveen-ul-Haq.
Munro continued to smack Quetta bowlers to all parts of the ground after being joined by skipper Shadab Khan. But the duo went back to the pavilion in quick succession, with Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz bagging the crucial wickets.
Munro scored 63 runs in 29 deliveries with the help of 5 fours and four maximums. Meanwhile, Shadab could only score 8 runs.
Mubasir Khan (5) and Asif Ali (6) also departed quickly as Quetta made their way back into the game.
Earlier, during the first innings, it seemed at one stage as if Islamabad United would be chasing a significantly low target, but Quetta Gladiators made an impressive comeback in the second half of the innings.
The Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi struck in the first over after he trapped Will Smeed, who bagged a golden duck, in front of the stumps.
Farooqi clinched his second wicket in the 3rd over of the innings after Yasir Khan (5) spooned one straight to Shadab Khan at extra cover.
Then, Quetta captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was caught brilliantly by Mubasir Khan on the fence while trying to play a pull shot. He scored 3 runs and fell to Faheem Ashraf.
Soon after, Iftikhar Ahmed (two) was sent packing after presenting a simple catch to Shadab at mid-on as Faheem bagged his second wicket of the match.
With Quetta reeling at 17-4, Mohammad Nawaz and Najibullah Zadran rescued their side with a superb 100 partnership while also notching up the fifties.
However, Fazalhaq broke this partnership in the 17th over as Nawaz was caught in the deep after scoring 52 runs in 44 deliveries.
Meanwhile, Zadran was cleaned up by Rumman Raees after scoring 59 runs in 34 deliveries with the help of 5 fours and three maximums.
Umar Akmal brilliantly scored unbeaten 43 runs in only 14 balls.
Quetta Gladiators
Yasir Khan, Will Smeed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Najibullah Zadran, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk/c), Umar Akmal, Mohammad Nawaz, Odean Smith, Umaid Asif, Naseem Shah, Naveen-ul-Haq
Islamabad United
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan (c), Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
