Quetta Gladiators outclass Islamabad United to book spot in PSL 10 final
LAHORE: A well-rounded team performance with both bat and ball powered Quetta Gladiators to a hard-fought 20-run triumph over titleholders Islamabad United in Qualifier, securing their place in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 final at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Despite the setback, Islamabad United still have a chance to reach the final. They will face the winner of the Eliminator 1 between fierce rivals Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, scheduled for Thursday.
Chasing a daunting target of 210, United were bundled out for 179 in 19.4 overs.
Their innings got off to a rocky start, losing the previous match’s star Alex Hales for a duck in the second over with just eight runs on the board.
Rassie van der Dussen then joined the in-form Sahibzada Farhan to steady the innings with a 71-run stand for the second wicket before falling to Mohammad Wasim Jr in the ninth over. Dussen scored 35 off 23 balls, including four boundaries and two maximums.
Farhan added a brief 22-run partnership with Salman Ali Agha for the third wicket before being dismissed by Usman Tariq in the 11th over. He top-scored for United with a 35-ball 52, featuring eight fours and a six.
His departure triggered a middle-order collapse as United stumbled to 150/6 in 15.5 overs.
Usman Tariq delivered a decisive blow in the 18th over, dismissing the set Salman Ali Agha and Naseem Shah (0) on consecutive deliveries. Agha managed 44 off 26 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
Veterans Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim Jr then wrapped up the tail, sealing Quetta’s first PSL final appearance in six years.
Usman Tariq starred with the ball, returning 3/32 in four overs. Amir, Wasim Jr, and Faheem Ashraf claimed two wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed picked up one.
Earlier, the Gladiators posted a formidable 209/6 after opting to bat first.
They endured an early setback when captain Saud Shakeel was dismissed by Ben Dwarshuis in the second over with just 14 on the board.
Rilee Rossouw then joined Finn Allen to rebuild with a 44-run partnership before falling for 16 (8 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) to Dwarshuis in the fifth over.
Hasan Nawaz followed soon after, contributing just six runs. Allen then stitched a valuable 43-run stand for the fourth wicket before he and Fernando fell in quick succession, leaving the score at 113/5 in 11.5 overs. Allen scored 41 off 27 balls with seven boundaries, while Fernando chipped in with 32 off 21 (2 sixes, 1 four).
A game-changing partnership between Dinesh Chandimal and Faheem Ashraf saw them add 95 runs off 49 deliveries for the sixth wicket. The stand ended with Ashraf’s dismissal on the second-last ball of the innings. He hammered 45 off 23 (4 fours, 3 sixes), while Chandimal remained unbeaten with a 28-ball 48, striking four boundaries.
For United, Ben Dwarshuis and Salman Irshad led the bowling charts with two wickets each, while Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim chipped in with one apiece.
