LAHORE: Usman Tariq’s three-wicket haul and Faheem Ashraf’s all-round brilliance powered Quetta Gladiators into the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Set to chase a daunting target of 210 runs, United were bowled out for 179 in 19.4 overs. The 30-run victory marked Quetta’s sixth consecutive win, earning them a spot in their first PSL final in six years.
The United had a poor start to the chase, as Alex Hales went without scoring. Following the wicket, the leading run-scorer of PSL 10, Sahibzada Farhan, and Rassie van der Dussen notched up a brisk 71-run partnership.
Farhan was the core aggressor of the stand while Van der Dussen was anchoring through until he was castled off Mohammad Wasim’s outstanding delivery in the ninth over.
Van der Dussen struck two sixes and four elegant fours in his 23-ball 35.
Farhan then partnered with Salman Agha for a brief 22-run partnership before walking back to the dugout soon after completing his half-century. He top-scored with a 35-ball 52 with the help of eight boundaries and a six.
Islamabad United were reduced to 101-3 in 11 overs. The game was evenly poised at this stage. The defending champions’ skipper, Shadab Khan, joined Agha Salman to steady the innings.
Shadab looked good for his nine-ball 16 before being removed by Abrar’s bowling. James Neesham (1) was the second to go, leaving United at 131-5. Meanwhile, Salman Agha held firm, but wickets tumbled around him.
From that point onward, Islamabad United struck at regular intervals. Imad Wasim (5) was caught off Amir’s bowling while Salman’s resistance ended in the 18th over, while Naseem Shah was out on a duck.
Salman scored 45 off 26 deliveries, hitting three boundaries and two sixes.
Victory was only a matter of time for Quetta as they scalped the last two wickets in quick succession, bundling out Islamabad in the penultimate over.
For Quetta Gladiators, Usman Tariq was the stand-out bowler, picking up three wickets in his quota of four overs, while Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim and Mohammad Amir chipped in with two wickets each.
Earlier, Faheem Ashraf and Dinesh Chandimal’s impressive knocks powered Quetta Gladiators to 209-6 in their allocated 20 overs.
Opting to bat first, the Gladiators did not have the best start as they lost their skipper in only the second over. Saud Shakeel (12 off 8) perished cheaply after trying to scoop Ben Dwarshuis.
However, the wicket did not stop Quetta Gladiators’ momentum as they scored rapidly in the powerplay. Rilee Rossouw and Finn Allen partnered for a rapid 44-run stand, bringing the score to 58, including an 18-run over of Naseem Shah.
Rossouw departed after scoring 16 off eight deliveries with the help of two fours and a six.
The United bowlers, initially struggling, made a strong comeback by dismissing Quetta Gladiators’ leading run-scorer, Hasan Nawaz, for just 6 runs, leaving 68 for 3 wickets at the end of the powerplay.
Coming at the no. 5 position, Avishka Fernando partnered with Finn Allen for a 43-run partnership, bringing the score to 111 at the halfway stage of the innings.
Allen, playing his first game after the resumption of the tournament, batted fluently for his brisk 27-ball 41, peppered with seven fours.
Islamabad United pegged Quetta Gladiators back with two quick wickets in consecutive overs. Allen was the first to go off Imad Wasim while Fernando followed him in the next over, leaving Quetta 113-5 in 11.5 overs.
At this stage, the defending champions were well positioned to restrict Quetta to under 200; however, a crucial 95-run partnership between Faheem Ashraf and Dinesh Chandimal took them to a commanding position.
The duo batted solidly, scoring 95 in the remaining eight overs. Faheem Ashraf was out on the second last ball of the penultimate over after scoring an enterprising 45 off 23 balls. He smashed four crisp fours and three sixes in his knock.
Veteran Srilankan batter Dinesh Chandimal, on the other hand, remained unbeaten on 48* off 28 balls, striking three sixes and four fours.
For Islamabad United, Ben Dwarshuis and Salman Irshad claimed two wickets each.
PLAYING XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Hasan Nawaz, +Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Rilee Rossouw, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Wasim, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.
Islamabad United: Sahibzada Farhan, Alex Hales, Rassie van der Dussen, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan (c), James Neesham, Ben Dwarshuis, Imad Wasim, +Ghazi Ghori, Salman Irshad, Naseem Shah.
READ: PSL 10: Karachi Kings’ Mir Hamza confident ahead of Eliminator against Qalandars
