United crush Gladiators to book Eliminator 2 clash with Zalmi

KARACHI: Islamabad United bowlers put up a splendid show to defend 174, outclassing Quetta Gladiators by 39 runs and knocking them out of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 during a one-sided Eliminator 1 at the National Bank Stadium here on Friday night.

The United will lock horns with Peshawar Zalmi in the Eliminator 2 on Saturday (today). The winners of the match will meet Multan Sultans in the final on March 18.

United bowlers were all guns blazing, as spinner Imad Wasim shattered Quetta’s top order with three wickets in the powerplay. Pacer Naseem Shah took two wickets, while Hunain Shah, Faheem Ashraf and Obed McCoy picked one piece.

Omair Yousuf’s fighting half-century and contributions from Akeal Hosein (31) and Mohammad Amir (23) saved the Gladiators from humiliation as they posted 135 in 18.4 overs after, at one stage, it looked like they would get bowled out under 100.

Gladiators were dealt a massive blow as the in-form Saud Shakeel got removed by Imad in the first over. Saud’s removal shackled Quetta’s entire batting line. Jason Roy followed him the next over by edging a fuller delivery from Naseem Shah at first slip.

Quetta’s skipper Rilee Rossouw (5) also fell when his performance mattered the most, getting undone by Imad’s full delivery in the third over. In the fifth over, bowled by Imad, Khawaja Nafay had to go after substitute Qasim Akram took a lovely catch. Laurie Evans got run out the next ball because of Faheem Ashraf’s accurate throw.

Omair scored 50 off 37 balls with four fours and six. Akeal’s fiery 35 off 18 brought some hope for Gladiators but he got run out. Hunain ended the game by removing Abrar.

Earlier, Islamabad, electing to bat first, posted a massive 174 on a tough surface with Martin Guptill (56) playing a responsible hand while others contributed fiery cameos before Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim squeezed runs in the last three overs .

United defied the slowness of the pitch and came with an attacking intent. Had Amir and Wasim not stopped the run flow near the end, Quetta might have had a more daunting target to chase.

Guptill, playing in place of injured Colin Munro, held the innings together during his 47-ball knock, while Agha Salman (31), Shadab (23), and Azam Khan (18) played aggressive cameos.

Guptill hit three successive fours in the second over. Alex Hales smashed two sixes in the fifth.

At the end of the power play, United had scored 51. Spinner Akeal Hosein did a fine job in that phase, giving away just seven runs and removing Hales.

The ninth and the tenth overs saw United scoring 17 and 14 runs, respectively, as Salman launched three boundaries and Guptill one to push their team to 93 for one at the halfway stage.

The 11th and 12th overs brought 11 runs, as Salman got removed by Saud Shakeel while trying a big shot. But aggressive Shadab churned out 14 runs before he was sent back by Abrar in the 15th over.

The 17th over saw Azam Khan clubbing two sixes and a four against Hosein before he got bowled off the last ball. But when it looked like United could reach the total near 200, Wasim in the 19th and Amir in the 18th and 20th overs displayed excellent death bowling, giving away just 19 runs to bring some momentum Quetta’s way.

For Quetta, Wasim was the most expensive bowler, conceding 40 runs in three overs for one scalp. Amir was superb, picking two wickets for just 20 in four overs. Spinners Abrar and Akeal picked a wicket each but were a touch expensive.