Quetta Gladiators stroll into PSL X final as Chandimal, bowlers shine

Dinesh Chandimal’s unbeaten 28-ball 48 and bowlers’ brilliance helped Quetta Gladiators reach the final spot of the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X) by beating Islamabad United by 30 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD UNITED'S INNINGS

Chasing a 210-run target, the United were bundled out for 179 with two balls spared. None of the United’s batters could show any significant resistance with the bat, with the exception of Sahibzada Farhan (52), Salman Ali Agha (44) and Rassie van der Dussen (35),

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan made his way back to the pavilion after Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel took an incredible catch off Abrar Ahmed’s bowling.

Subsequently, Faheem Ashraf perplexed James Neesham on 3-ball 1.

After showcasing his batting prowess, Faheem Ashraf had perplexed Alex Hales in his very first over as Islamabad United faced early hiccup in their run-chase.

For the Gladiators, Usman Tariq (3-32) picked up three wickets.

Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings will lock horns tomorrow (May 22) at the same venue in the Eliminator 1.

Mohammad Amir (2-31), Faheem Ashraf (2-33) and Mohammad Wasim (2-38) took two wickets apiece.

Abrar Ahmed (1-27) took a scalp.

Saud Shakeel (0-14) remained wicketless.

QUETTA GLADIATORS' INNINGS

Dinesh Chandimal (49 off 29), Faheem Ashraf (45 off 23) and Finn Allen (41 off 27) powered Quetta Gladiators to a staggering 209-6 against Islamabad United in the first playoff of the PSL X.

Faheem Ashraf made his way back to the pavilion after treating the Islamabad United’s bowlers with contempt in the second-last delivery of the 20th over. Opting to bat first, despite losing three wickets, the Gladiators scored 70 runs in the powerplay. Saud Shakeel (12), Rilee Rossouw (16) and Hasan Nawaz (6) made their way back to the pavilion in the powerplay.

Experienced batter Dinesh Chandimal and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf were looking to rebound the Quetta Gladiators innings against Islamabad United in the first playoff.

The Gladiators lost two successive wickets after Finn Allen’s blazing 27-ball 41.

Allen had slammed seven boundaries before he was removed by Imad. Avishka Fernando, who was rebounding the Gladiators' innings, was trapped by Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan on 21-ball 32.

The Gladiators were off to a blazing start against Islamabad United in the powerplay.

Finn Allen had treated the United bowlers with contempt, smashing six boundaries in the powerplay.

For the United, Ben Dwarshuis (2-31) and Salman Irshad (2-34) picked up two wickets each.

Shadab Khan (1-19) and Imad Wasim (1-36) took a scalp each.

James Neesham (0-36) and Naseem Shah (0-50) remained wicketless.

PLAYING XI

Islamabad United: Sahibzada Farhan, Alex Hales, Rassie van der Dussen, Salman Agha, *Shadan Khan, James Neesham, Ben Dwarshuis, Imad Wasim, +Ghazi Ghori, Salman Irshad, Naseem Shah.

Quetta Gladiators: *Saud Shakeel, Finn Allen, Hasan Nawaz, +Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Rilee Rossouw, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Wasim, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.