Quetta Gladiators Beat Islamabad United

Web Desk — A captain innings from Sarfaraz Ahmed assisted Quetta Gladiators qualify for the play-off category of PSL Season 7 by beating Islamabad United at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Saturday.

With the assistance of Sarfaraz’s late attack, Quetta was able to achieve the the 200-run target in the final over of the match.

Batting first, Islamabad took a rankling start to the innings, as Alex Hales (62), and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (19), took the score to 100 in only 10 overs. However, few quick wickets in the middle overs hampered the run rate, but a late whirlwind from Faheem Ashraf (55 off 28 balls) moved Islamabad to 199/8.

Accordingly, Quetta openers, Jason Roy (54) and Ahsan Ali (30), gave an ideal beginning to the pursuit. Things turned into a little trickier when four fast wickets of Ahsan, Roy, James Vince (23), and Iftikhar Ahmed (4), dialed back the progression of runs.

The game seemed to be getting away from Quetta, as they required 57 runs from the last four overs. But the electrifying innings from Umar Akmal (23 off 8) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (40 off 28) drove Quetta to an emotional success in the final over.

Points Table Position

With this victory Quetta earns two valuable points, taking their total to six. Though it does not change their position, which is fourth in the points table, yet it widens the gap between them and the fifth-placed Peshawar Zalmi.

Meanwhile, Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars are placed first and second in the points table with 12 and eight points, respectively.

Islamabad United are placed third with six points, followed by Quetta and Peshawar in the fourth and fifth places.

Karachi Kings are reeling at the bottom of the table with five losses on the trot.

Past PSL Winners

PSL 2016 – Islamabad United

PSL 2017 – Peshawar Zalmi

PSL 2018 – Islamabad United

PSL 2019 – Quetta Gladiators

PSL 2020 – Karachi Kings

PSL 2021 – Multan Sultans