KARACHI – Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 39 runs in the first Eliminator of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 9 at National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on Friday evening.
Chasing a 175-run target for victory, Gladiators lost five wickets inside five overs with just 16 runs on the board. Omair Yousaf (50) and Akeal hosein (31) out on 52 runs partnership for the sixth wickets to give some respectability to the team score. Omair Yousaf and Mohammad Amir (23) put on 41 runs together for the eighth wickets. Gladiators kept losing wickets and ended up at 135 in 18.4 overs. Imad Wasim bagged three wickets, Naseem Shah two and Hunain Shah, Faheem Ashraf and Obed McCoy took one wicket each while Laurie Evans and Akeal Hosein were run out. Imad Wasim was named player of the match.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Martin Guptill (56) and Alex Hales (23) provided a solid start to the United with a 51-run opening partnership. Guptal and Salman Ali Agha (31) put on another 51-run together to set the stage for a strong finish. Cameos of skipper Shadab Khan ((23) and Azam Khan (18) helped United reach 174/9 despite losing back-to-back wickets during the last three overs. Mohammad Amir and Akeal Hosein bagged two wickets each, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Abrar Ahmed and Saud Shakeel took one wicket each while Haider Ali and Imad Wasim were run out.
Islamabad United Playing XI: Alex Hales, Martin Guptill, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah, Obed McCoy
Quetta Gladiators Playing XI: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel, Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Omair Bin Yousuf, Laurie Evans (wk), Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
