On Thursday, Quetta Gladiators clinched a hard-fought victory over Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, despite a late scare in their batting innings. The Gladiators, led by Rilee Rossouw’s unbeaten 34, chased down Islamabad’s below-par total of 138 with three wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare, marking their third consecutive win in the tournament.
Quetta’s spinners played a pivotal role in dismantling Islamabad’s batting lineup, restricting them to their lowest total of the season, 138 for 9. Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim starred with the ball, claiming three wickets each, while Akeal Hosein supported with two crucial dismissals.
Islamabad United, despite a promising start, stumbled in the middle overs, losing wickets at regular intervals. The late resurgence from Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan momentarily threatened Quetta’s chase, but Mohammad Amir’s courageous hitting ensured Gladiators’ victory.
Jason Roy provided Quetta with a brisk start, scoring 37 off 18 balls before falling to Hunain Shah, who made an impactful debut for Islamabad. Despite Sarfaraz Ahmed’s early dismissal, Rossouw’s partnership with Sherfane Rutherford steered Quetta towards victory.
Earlier, Islamabad United’s batting faltered after a solid start, with Salman Ali Agha top-scoring with 33 runs. Alex Hales and Colin Munro couldn’t capitalize on their starts, succumbing to Quetta’s spin attack.
Overall, Quetta Gladiators’ clinical bowling performance and resilient batting effort secured them the win, propelling them to joint leadership with Multan Sultans on the PSL leaderboard, while Islamabad United faced their second consecutive defeat in the tournament.
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