PSL 8: Azam, Farooqi wrap up comfortable victory for United over Gladiators
Cricket
United's bowlers bundle out Gladiators for 157
KARACHI (Web Desk) – Azam Khan’s blistering 42-ball 97 and Fazalhaq Farooqi's exceptional bowling stormed Islamabad United to 63-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in the 13th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi on Friday.
GLADIATORS' INNINGS
Chasing a mammoth total of 221, Gladiators’ were cleaned up for 157 in the last over. The Gladiators were three down for 26. But it was veteran Mohammad Hafeez and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who showed some intent to go hard against the United’s bowlers.
But Fazalhaq Farooqi proved to be brilliant for the United. Farooqi bagged three wickets including an important wicket of Hafeez. Hafeez was looking belligerent for his 26-ball 48, studded with six fours and two maximums.
Farooqi got rid of Hafeez, who was looking for big hit, but found the fielder. Sarfaraz Ahmed gone for 36-ball 41, hitting three fours and one maximum.
Iftikhar Ahmed was also looked good for his 27-ball 39, hitting three boundaries and two towering sixes.
While, rest of the batters were failed to offered any significant resistance.
Jason Roy (5), Martin Guptill (0), Odean Smith (0), Naseem Shah (0), Aimal Khan (0), Mohammad Nawaz (1), and Mohammad Hasnain (1) failed to contribute big for their side.
For the United, Fazalhaq Farooqi (3-28) and Hasan Ali (3-38) bagged three wickets each. Abrar Ahmed (2-21) and Shadab Khan (2-24) bowled brilliantly and grabbed two wickets apiece.
— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) February 24, 2023
ISLAMABAD UNITED'S INNINGS
After the United decided to bat, Azam Khan’s blistering 42-ball 97 powered Quetta Gladiators to 220-6 against Islamabad United in the high-voltage clash of the premium tournament.
Despite losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (8 off 8) and Rassie van der Dussen (1 off 4), Colin Munro tried to reconstruct the innings of the United, when they were two down for 39. Munro scored 22-ball 38, studding with four sixes and a boundary. He was cleaned up by Aimal Khan. Mohammad Hasnain, who went on to be expensive in the death overs, was brilliant with the bowl in the first powerplay, getting rid of Gurbaz and Dussen.
The United were struggling when Azam Khan came to bat, he was absolutely scintillating, clobbering nine boundaries and eight maximums. He needed three runs to score a ton, but was cleaned up by Oden Smith in the final delivery of the innings of the United.
For Quetta Gladiators, Mohammad Hasnain scooped up two wickets, but was expensive, conceding 52 runs. Odean Smith also took two wickets, conceding 41 runs
Aimal Khan was hammered for 55 runs in his four overs. Though, he picked up a wicket.
In terms of economy Naseem Shah (1-32) was much better and bagged a wicket.
Mohammad Nawaz (0-34) and Iftikhar Ahmed (0-4) were wicketless
Fazalhaq Farooqi gets the final wicket, Gladiators are all out for 157.
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) February 24, 2023
TOSS
Islamabad United opted to bat first against Quetta Gladiators in the marquee tournament.
Islamabad United had welcomed Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was making his first appearance for the United.
Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Will Smeed, Martin Guptill, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Aimal Khan, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Hassan Ali, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abrar Ahmed
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) February 24, 2023
