Islamabad United secured a 43-run victory against Quetta Gladiators as the Shadab Khan-led side performed exceptionally on all fronts at the National Stadium.
The Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side were all out in the 20th over and managed to reach only 186, with only Ahsan Ali being able to score 50 and Mohammad Nawaz 47.
Shadab Khan was exceptional with the ball as he took a five-wicket haul, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim managed to pick two wickets, and Waqas Maqsood picked up a wicket.
Some hard-hitting batting from Islamabad United had helped them hand a missive 230-run target to Quetta Gladiators.
Paul Stirling (58), Colin Munro, and Azam Khan’s 65 helped the team boost their score despite Alex Hales being sent back to the pavilion earlier in the game.
Gladiators skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed put United into bat after winning the toss, but the decision turned out to be a daunting one for his team as United batters went all guns blazing from the beginning.
United’s opener Colin Munro played a sheer entertaining knock of 72 runs with the help of five sixes, while Azam Khan scored 65 with six huge sixes as they both smashed Shahid Afridi to all parts of the park in his first match.
Afridi was the most expensive bowler for Quetta as he conceded 67 runs in four overs, but clean bowled the dangerous-looking Azam.
Apart from spinner Mohammad Nawaz who took two wickets for 32 runs in four overs, all the Gladiators bowlers were smashed.
