Gladiators beat United to qualify for PSL 10 final

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators qualified for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 final after defeating Islamabad United in Qualifier 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing 210, the defending champions were bowled out for 179 in 19.4 overs, losing the game by 30 runs.

Islamabad United were off to a dismal start as Alex Hales fell in the second over for a duck.

His opening partner, Sahibzada Farhan, was joined by Rassie van der Dussen and the duo raised a 71-run partnership before the latter was removed in the ninth over.

The right-handed batter made 35 off 23 balls, with the help of four fours and two sixes.

Sahibzada Farhan then stitched a 22-run partnership with Salman Ali Agha until he was dismissed after scoring 52 off 35 balls.

Farhan’s dismissal triggered a collapse in the middle as the defending champions lost three quick wickets to stumble to 150/6 in 15.5 overs.

Usman Tariq diminished United’s hope for a direct qualification to the PSL 10 when he dismissed Salman Ali Agha (44) and Naseem Shah (zero) in successive deliveries.

Ghazi Ghori was dismissed on four, while Salman Irshad made two as Quetta Gladiators bowled out the Islamabad United for 179.

For Gladiators, Usman Tariq picked up three wickets, while Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf and Wasim Jr took two wickets each

Spinner Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a wicket.

Earlier, the Gladiators lost skipper Saud Shakeel early in the inning after opting to bat first in the PSL 10 Qualifier 1.

Following his dismissal, Rilee Rossouw joined his opening partner Finn Allen and the two stitched a 44-run partnership until the former fell to Ben Dwarshuis in the fifth over after making 16 off eight balls.

Hasan Nawaz was removed after scoring just six runs as Quetta Gladiators were reduced to 68/3 in 5.5 overs in Qualifier 1 of the PSL 10.

Finn Allen then joined hands with Avishka Fernando for a valuable 43-run partnership, to take Gladiators to 111 for four in 11.5 overs.

Allen and Fernando fell in successive overs after scoring 41 and 32, respectively.

Faheem Ashraf and Dinesh Chandimal took charge of the inning, raising a 95-run partnership to power Gladiators to a formidable total.

Faheem Ashraf scored 45 off 23 balls, while Chandimal remained unbeaten with a 28-ball 48, hitting as many boundaries.

Playing XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Hasan Nawaz, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Avishka Fernando, Rilee Rossouw, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Wasim, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed.

Islamabad United: Sahibzada Farhan, Alex Hales, Rassie van der Dussen, Salman Agha, Shadan Khan (c), James Neesham, Ben Dwarshuis, Imad Wasim, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Salman Irshad, and Naseem Shah.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will go straight to the PSL 10 final, scheduled for May 25.

The two table-toppers have faced off in 21 matches against each other in PSL. Gladiators have won 11 of those games, while United won 10.

It is to be noted here that the PSL 10 was suspended for nine days due to rising tensions between Pakistan and India.

After both countries agreed on the ceasefire, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the resumption of the tournament from May 17.