Islamabad crowd again had lots to cheer as Islamabad United have qualified for the playoffs of thevHBL PSL, that’s the big news tonight. Many congratulations to them. They are in red hot form.
It was yet another successful chase for Islamabad United and this time it was Fahim Ashraf, stealing those winning runs to secure two wickets win for Islamabad United.
Once again Azam Khan and him having that partnership and in the end, it looked easy. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed disappointed once again. It’s been an over all disappointing period for Quetta Gladiators. What a fantastic chase it was. They seem to be the best team in the HBL۔PSL when it comes to chasing.
Fazal e Haq Farooqi was declared Player of the match for grabbing 3 wickets, conceding 25 runs.
Needing nine runs from the 20th over to overhaul Quetta’s 179-6, allrounder Fahim Ashraf finished unbeaten on 39 as he hammered fast bowler Odean Smith for three fours off the first three balls and took Islamabad to 183-8 with three balls to spare.
Islamabad’s fifth win in seven games lifted it to second behind Lahore Qalandars, which on Saturday became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. The fifth successive loss pushed Quetta to the brink of elimination with only two points from seven games.
Najibullah Zadran, playing his first game for Quetta, made an aggressive 59 off 34 balls and Mohammad Nawaz (44-ball 52) scored his first half century of the season after Islamabad had reduced Quetta to 17-4 inside the first six overs of the batting powerplay.
Umar Akmal hit a blistering unbeaten 43 off only 14 balls with five sixes and two fours in the death overs that raised Quetta’s hopes after being asked to bat first.
Islamabad’s Fazalhaq Farooqi (3-25) had pinned Quetta opener Will Smeed leg before wicket off the first ball the Englishman faced, while Yasir Khan offered a tame catch in the Afghanistan fast bowler’s second over.
Report by: Saif R Siddiqui