Against Quetta Gladiators in the 21st game of the domestic premier league, Islamabad United decided to take the field first.
Before the game, the Gladiators, who are in last place, faced off against the United, who were placed third with fours.
For the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League, Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators in a thrilling final over-win to secure their place in the playoffs.
After Colin Munro scored 63 runs off only 29 deliveries to help his team reach 77 for 2 at the conclusion of the powerplay and 96 for 3 after seven overs, United, who were chasing 180, appeared to be winning the game. But, Mohammad Nawaz eventually bowled Munro out for just 29 runs.
Before Faheem Ashraf and Azam Khan put up 58 runs for the seventh wicket to bring the innings back on track, he was swiftly followed back to the locker rooms by Mubasir Khan and Asif Ali.
In the penultimate over, Umaid Asif (3 for 37) removed Khan and Hassan Ali, leaving Quetta needing just two wickets to win. But Ashraf didn’t falter, hitting Odean Smith for three consecutive fours to secure the victory with three balls remaining.
Nawaz was the best Gladiators bowler, taking 2 for 17, while Ashraf finished unbeaten on 39 (31).
After suffering early defeats against Islamabad United on Sunday, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nawaz both produced heroic fifties, while Umar Akmal then made a quickfire 43 off only 14 balls to help Quetta Gladiators reach a decent target.
Before Nawaz and Zadran led the rescue with an incredible 104-run partnership and helped their side to 179/6 in the 20 overs, United pacers wrecked havoc early, reducing Gladiators to 17/4 inside the powerplay.
Nawaz hit 52 from 44 balls with six breathtaking boundaries, while Zadran got 59 from 34 balls, with five fours and three maximums. Before Fazalhaq Farooqi made the breakthrough, the two batsmen’s outstanding partnership carried their team to 121/4 in 16 overs.
In the 17th over, Farooqi removed Nawaz, and altogether, his bowling performance was superb. In his first stint, he dismissed the two openers, Will Smeed (0) and Yasir Khan (5).
Although he only spent a short time at the crease, Akmal proved why he should be back in the starting lineup by smashing five maximums and two fours. He also scored 21 runs for Gladiators in the final over to put an impressive end to the game.
The bowlers for United had a mixed performance, with fast bowlers—with the exception of Hassan Ali—claiming wickets and spinners giving runs at an economy rate above 10.
Sarfaraz Ahmed and Iftikhar Ahmed were both bowled by Faheem Ashraf for three and two wickets, respectively, in the middle overs. Ruman Raees finished off Zadran in the final over to earn himself a wicket.