PSL 2023: Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators

At the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi today, the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) saw Islamabad United defeat Quetta Gladiators by two wickets.

After Lahore Qalandars, United reached home in 19.3 overs while chasing a 180-run target, becoming the second team to advance to the playoffs. When Rahmanullah Gurbaz (#0) was out by Naseem Shah in the first over of the run chase, United lost a wicket. However, by combining for 52 runs in 25 balls, Colin Munro and Alex Hales turned the tables on the Gladiators.

Hales went back after scoring 12 runs in nine balls after a sharp reflex catch by Najibullah Zadran on the bowling of Naveen-ul-Haq. Munro, who was the dominant partner in the partnership with Hales, continued to smack Gladiators bowlers to all parts of the ground after being joined by skipper Shadab Khan. But the duo went back to the pavilion in quick succession with Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz bagging the crucial wickets.

Munro hit five fours and four sixes in his 63 runs from 29 balls. Shadab, meanwhile, was only able to score eight runs. As the Gladiators entered the game again, Mubasir Khan (5) and Asif Ali (6) also left abruptly. However, a pivotal partnership of 58 runs in 44 balls, stitched by Azam Khan (35 off 25) and Faheem Ashraf (39 off 31), kept United on track for victory. United maintained their composure to reach the finish line in the final over despite Umaid Asif taking two wickets in the penultimate over. Nawaz took home two victories, while Umaid finished with three wickets. When United chose to bowl first against the Gladiators, they were given a target of 180 runs.