Istafa Ali
Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by two wickets in the 21st match of the eighth Pakistan Super League (PSL 2023) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
United qualified for the playoffs following Lahore Qalandars by reaching 180 runs in 19.3 overs.
United lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) to Naseem Shah in the opening over of the run-chase.
Colin Munro and Alex Hales attacked the Gladiators with 52 runs in 25 balls.
After a brilliant reflex catch by Najibullah Zadran off Naveen-ul-Haq, Hales returned to the hut after scoring 12 runs in nine balls.
After joining captain Shadab Khan, Munro proceeded to smash Gladiators spinners. The pair was dismissed quickly by Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz.
Five fours and four sixes let Munro score 63 in 29 balls. Shadab managed eight runs.
As the Gladiators returned, Mubasir Khan (5) and Asif Ali (6) left hastily.
Azam Khan (35 off 25) and Faheem Ashraf (39 off 31) combined for 58 runs in 44 balls to put United on pace for victory.
United won the last over despite Umaid Asif taking two wickets in the penultimate over.
Nawaz took two wickets and Umaid three.
After bowling first against the Gladiators, United set a 180-run goal.
United seemed to be chasing a modest goal, but the Gladiators staged an amazing recovery in the second part of the innings.
In the opening over, Fazalhaq Farooqi caught Will Smeed in front of the stumps for a golden duck.
Yasir Khan, five runs in 11 balls, spooned one to Shadab Khan at extra cover in the third over, giving the Afghanistan bowler his second wicket.
Gladiators skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed was caught by Mubasir Khan on the fence while attempting to play a pull shot. Faheem Ashraf defeated him after three runs.
Following Faheem took his second wicket, Iftikhar Ahmed (2) returned to the pavilion after a routine catch to Shadab at mid-on.
Mohammad Nawaz and Najibullah Zadran scored a century and fifties to save the Gladiators at 17-4.
Fazalhaq broke the partnership in the 17th over when Nawaz was caught in the deep after scoring 52 runs in 44 balls.
Veteran Actor Qavi Khan Passes Away
After scoring 59 runs in 34 balls with five fours and three sixes, Rumman Raees dismissed Zadran.
Umar Akmal, making a return, smashed the death overs. Right-hander scored 43 unbroken runs in 14 balls.
Quetta Gladiators, at the bottom of the points table, are practically eliminated from PSL 2023 as they must win all their remaining games and hope other outcomes go their way to reach the playoffs.
