F.P. Report
KARACHI: Defending champions Quetta Gladiators kicked off their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 campaign with a victory when they defeated Islamabad United by three wickets in the opening match of the event at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on Thursday.
After being sent in to bat, two-time champions Islamabad United were all out for 168 with five balls to spare out of their allotted 20 overs.
Islamabad United suffered an earlier loss when Mohammad Nawaz got the wicket of Colin Munro on the first ball of the tournament. Dawid Malan joined Luke Ronchi and the pair put on 38 runs for the second wicket partnership before Sohail Khan removed Ronchi who was caught by Ahmed Shahzad. Ronchi scored 23 runs off 13 balls hitting four 4s and on six.
The fall of two wickets didn’t put pressure on Dawid Malan who continued to score freely and scored a half century that propelled Islamabad to the 100-mark in the 11th over.
Hussain Talat (19) was the third man to go when he was caught by Ahmed Shahzad off Muhammad Hasnain when Islamabad United reached 106 followed of Colin Ingram who made 6 runs.
Dawid Malan power-packed innings came to an end when he was caught by Jason Roy off the bowing of Ben Cutting. Malan hit five boundaries and three towering sixes in his inning of 64 in just 40 balls.
Shadab Khan made just 8 runs and Faheem Ashraf scored 20 runs as the Islamabad United were all out for 168 with five balls to spare out of their allotted 20 overs.
Muhammad Hasnain was pick of the Quetta Gladiators bowlers claiming 4 wickets for 25 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Ben Cutting also bowled well and claimed three wickets while Sohail Khan got two wickets and Muhammad Nawaz claimed one wicket.
Chasing a target of 169 to win, Quetta Gladiators also suffered an early loss when young Muhammad Musa removed Jason Roy in the first over. Shane Watson (15) and Ahmed Shehzad (7) didn’t stay at the crease for long and were back in the hut in Powerplay.
Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azam Khan put up 52 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Amad Butt trapped Sarfaraz leg before wicket when he was on 21.
Azam Khan’s scintillating 33-ball 59, studded with five 4s and three 6s, brought the game in favour of Quetta Gladiators. Muhammad Nawaz (23) and Ben Cutting (22*) also played a role in Quetta Gladiators victory.
Young Muhammad Hasnain was declared Man of The Match for the figures of 4 wicket for giving away 25 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
Quetta Gladiators go top of the table, becoming the first side to register points at this year s PSL, while Islamabad United are bottom after the opening night.
Scores in brief:
Islamabad United: 168 all-out, 19.1 overs (Dawid Malan 64, Luke Ronchi 23, Faheem Ashraf 20; Mohammad Hasnain 4-25, Ben Cutting 3-31, Sohail Khan 2-21)
Quetta Gladiators: 171-7, 18.3 overs (Azam Khan 59, Mohammad Nawaz 23, Ben Cutting 22 not out, Sarfaraz Ahmed 21; Mohammad Musa 3-30)
Result: Quetta Gladiators won by three wickets.
Next fixtures: Two more matches will be played today (Friday). Karachi Kings will take on Peshawar Zalmi at the National Stadium, Karachi, while Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans will lock horns at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
