In the 18th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL), Quetta Gladiators defeated Islamabad United by 5 wickets after a thrilling contest. In the match being played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfraz Ahmed decided to field first after winning the toss. Batting first, Islamabad United scored 199 runs in the stipulated 20 overs.
Gladiators defeated United in a thrilling match | PSL 7
In pursuit of the target, Quetta Gladiators openers gave an aggressive start, Jason Roy 54 while Ehsan Ali scored 30 runs. Umar Akmal, playing his first match of the PSL this season, sided with captain Sarfraz Ahmed and formed a 37-run partnership in the closing moments of the match, both scoring 23 and 50 runs respectively. For Islamabad United, captain Shadab Khan took three wickets while Liam Dawson took one.
Earlier, Alex Hales and Rehmanullah Garbaz started the innings for United, but the Afghan opener was dismissed for 19 while Hales scored 62 off 38 balls. Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan fell victim to Shahid Afridi by scoring 12 runs while five United batsmen including Asif Ali and Azam Khan were dismissed for just nine runs.
For United, Faheem Ashraf played aggressively in the closing moments of the match and scored 55 off just 27 balls, including five fours and four sixes in his innings. For Quetta Gladiators, Shahid Afridi and James Faulkner took 2 wickets each. While Naseem Shah and Noor Ahmed took one wicket each.