KARACHI – Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 39 runs in the first tie of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 9 at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on Friday night.
Chasing a target of 175 runs for victory, Gladiators lost five wickets in five overs with just 16 runs on the board. Omair Yousaf (50) and Akeal Hosein (31) partnered on 52 runs for the sixth wickets to give some respectability to the team’s score.
Omair Yousaf and Mohammad Amir (23) made 41 runs together for the eighth wickets. The Gladiators continued to lose wickets and finished 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 for United with an opening 51-run partnership. Guptal and Salman Ali Agha (31) scored another 51 together to set the stage for a good finish. Cameos by captain Shadab Khan ((23) and Azam Khan (18) helped United reach 174/9 despite losing consecutive 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 left wicketless.
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
Tags: Islamabad United vs Quetta GladiatorsIUvQGPSL Season 9
