Abrar Ahmed (3-18) and Mohammad Wasim (3-20) powered Quetta Gladiators to a three-wicket victory in the seesaw thriller against Islamabad United in the eighth match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
QUETTA GLADIATORS' INNINGS
Chasing a low scoring total of 138-9, the Gladiators had completed the equation with 10 balls to spare, when Mohammad Amir plundered a run.
Earlier, the Gladiators’ batting powerhouse had faced early hiccups when they lost Saud Shakeel (2) and Khawaja Nafay (9). But it was Jason Roy’s blistering 18-ball 37 that helped the Gladiators ensure moving forward with the score card.
In his 18-ball 37, Roy had whacked seven boundaries and one towering six before he was bowled out by newcomer Hunain Shah.
The highlight of the inning was the circumspect knock by Gladiators captain Rilee Rossouw, who remained unbeaten, scoring 34-ball 38 and studding with three boundaries.
Rossouw formed an able ally in Sherfane Rutherford, with whom he had stitched a 62-run partnership off 53 deliveries.
Other batters, Saud Shakeel (2), Khawaja Nafay (9), Sarfaraz Ahmed (1), Akeal Hosein (8), and Mohammad Wasim (1), failed to show any significant resistance with the bat.
Mohammad Amir’s unconquered 6-ball 11 gave impetus to the run chase of the Gladiators.
For the United, Shadab Khan (2-24) was outstanding with the bowl, scooping two wickets.
Naseem Shah (2-34) was looking in rhythm as well and bagged two wickets.
Rumman Raees (1–14) and Hunain Shah (1-13) took a scalp each.
Imad Wasim (0-23) and Agha Salman (0-28) remained wicketless.
ISLAMABAD UNITED'S INNINGS
After being put into bat, the United were off to an enterprising start despite losing Alex Hales, earlier, who was looking to treat the Gladiators with utter contempt by scoring 9-ball 21, lacing with one boundary and two towering sixes.
But it was Colin Munro and Agha Salman’s 40-run stand that gave some impetus to the United’s innings.
It was Abrar Ahmed that broke the crucial partnership between Munro and Agha, when the former removed Munro on 22-ball 20, lacing with one boundary and one towering six.
Agha was looking good for his 23-ball 33, studding with five boundaries, before he was removed by Abrar Ahmed.
Faheem Ashraf and Jordan Cox had struck 20 (14) and 19 (21), respectively.
But other batters, Shadab Khan (2), Azam Khan (1), Imad Wasim (9), and Rumman Raees (0), had failed to show any significant resistance with the bat.
Hunain Shah remained unbeaten on 7-ball 2.
For the Gladiators, Abrar Ahmed (3-18) and Mohammad Wasim (3-20) were brilliant with the bowl, as both of them had scooped up three wickets apiece.
Akeal Hosein (2-32) scooped up two wickets apiece.
Mohammad Amir (0-30) had remained wicketless.
TOSS
Earlier, Gladiators captain Rilee Rossouw had decided to bowl first against Islamabad United in the eighth match of the domestic premium tournament.
Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel (vc), Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford, Akeal Hosein, Muhammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed
Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hunain Shah, Naseem Shah, Rumman Raees
