In the 13th match of the current Pakistan Super League (PSL) that took place on Friday at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by a score of 63 runs. The match’s star was Azam Khan. Choosing to bat first, Islamabad set a massive 221-run target on the scoreboard before bowling out Quetta for 157 in 19.1 overs, thanks to Azam’s outstanding batting and the bowlers’ excellent performance.
Quetta’s response to the big score was to lose wickets quickly, and they were unable to gain momentum. Mohammad Hafeez, a seasoned all-rounder, scored 48 runs in 26 balls to help Quetta, which was struggling, get back on its feet. Hafeez and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed shared a 69-run partnership during his innings for the fourth wicket. However, in the eleventh over, the batter was run out by the Afghan pacer Fazalhaq.
Following that, the Gladiators lost their skipper, Sarfaraz, who was defeated by Shadab after scoring 41 runs off 26 balls. When Islamabad skipper Shadab struck once more in the same over, Mohammad Nawaz was sent back to the pavilion. Iftikhar Ahmed made an effort to take command, but he was unable to really get going. On 27 pitches, the right-handed batter scored 39 runs before getting out to Hasan Ali. All-rounders Odean Smith, Mohammad Hasnain, and Naseem Shah were returned within five deliveries.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, a debutant, destroyed Martin Guptill with an excellent in-swinging punch. In search of a golden duck, the New Zealander left. Abrar Ahmed, a mystery spinner, struck in the second over, trapping Jason Roy (5) for a run-out. Later, the spinner bowled out Will Smeed with the first ball of his second over, bringing Quetta’s total down to 23-3. The young English batter appeared to be in good form, but he only scored 17 runs.
Fazalhaq and Hasan Ali each took three wickets for Islamabad, and Shadab and Abrab each took two wickets. Azam Khan excelled earlier when Islamabad United faced Quetta Gladiators and set a massive target of 221 runs. Azam made 97 runs, including nine boundaries and eight maximums, in 42 balls..
Azam and Asif Ali returned Islamabad United to the game by hitting boundaries after the Gladiators took quick wickets. To bring their team back into the game, Azam and Asif put together a sensational partnership for the fifth wicket of 98 runs in 45 balls. Asif was able to score 42 runs in 24 balls, including four maximums and a boundary.
Azam continued to score boundaries after Asif left and played a 51-run partnership with Faheem Ashraf (17) to help his team reach the big total. Aimal Khan, a young pacer making his Gladiators debut, took care of Colin Munro, who scored 38 runs off 22 balls, including four and four maximums.
Odean Smith sent Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan packing after Mohammad Hasnain struck twice. The all-rounder made an effort to hit a big shot, but he edged, and he got bowled. He drove in 12 runs and hit 14 balls. Rassie van der Dussen (1) tried to hit a flick shot at Hasnain, but the speedster beat him. The South African batsman was bowled. When Hasnain sent Rahmanullah Gurbaz (8) back to the pavilion, Islamabad United fell to 13-1, giving Quetta Gladiators an early lead.
Quetta Gladiators Eleven Side
- Martin Guptill
- Jason Roy
- Will Smeed
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (c)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Hafeez
- Odean Smith
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Aimal Khan
- Mohammad Hasnain
- Naseem Shah
Islamabad United Eleven Side
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Colin Munro
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Shadab Khan (c)
- Azam Khan (wk)
- Asif Ali
- Mubasir Khan
- Abrar Ahmed
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fazalhaq Farooqui
- Hasan Ali
Technical Analysis
The 13th match of the PSL 2022 took place on Friday, 8th April 2022, at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, where Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by a massive 63 runs. The match was dominated by some outstanding performances from the players of Islamabad United, especially Azam Khan and the bowlers.
Choosing to bat first, Islamabad United set a massive target of 221 runs on the scoreboard, thanks to the outstanding batting of Azam Khan and a few other contributions from Asif Ali, Colin Munro, and Faheem Ashraf. Azam was the star of the innings, scoring a blistering 97 runs in just 42 balls, which included nine boundaries and eight sixes. He was well supported by Asif Ali, who scored 42 runs in just 24 balls, including four sixes and a boundary.
Quetta Gladiators had a daunting task ahead of them, chasing down such a huge target. Their response to the big score was to lose wickets quickly and struggle to gain momentum. They were eventually bowled out for 157 runs in just 19.1 overs, falling short of the target by 63 runs.
Quetta’s chase got off to a poor start as they lost their opening batsman Martin Guptill for a golden duck in the very first over. The debutant Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled an excellent in-swinging delivery that destroyed Guptill’s stumps. Jason Roy (5) followed soon after, getting run out by Abrar Ahmed in the second over, leaving Quetta at 23-2.
Iftikhar Ahmed tried to take command and stabilize the innings, but he was unable to really get going. The right-handed batsman scored 39 runs in 27 balls before getting out to Hasan Ali. The experienced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez (48 off 26) tried to lift the spirits of Quetta, but his dismissal in the 11th over by Fazalhaq ended any hope of a comeback.
Quetta’s skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed, scored 41 runs off 26 balls, but his dismissal in the same over by Shadab Khan left Quetta in a dire situation. Mohammad Nawaz followed soon after, getting bowled by Shadab in the same over. The Gladiators lost all their all-rounders, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hasnain, and Naseem Shah, within five deliveries, which sealed their fate.
The bowlers of Islamabad United put up an impressive performance, restricting Quetta Gladiators to just 157 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Hasan Ali each took three wickets, while Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each. The bowlers complemented each other well, and their efforts were the key to the victory.
Overall, it was a one-sided affair, with Islamabad United dominating in all aspects of the game. They put up an excellent batting performance, followed by a disciplined bowling display that never allowed Quetta Gladiators to get going.
Azam Khan was undoubtedly the star of the match, with his outstanding batting display, which earned him the Player of the Match award. His knock of 97 runs in just 42 balls was filled with boundaries and sixes, and he took the game away from Quetta with his aggressive batting. Asif Ali and the bowlers also played their part, contributing to the victory.
In conclusion, the match between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United was
Conclusion
The match of the Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United showcased some brilliant performances from both teams. While Azam Khan’s outstanding innings of 97 runs helped Islamabad set a massive target, Quetta’s Mohammad Hafeez tried his best to keep his team in the game. However, Islamabad’s bowlers, especially Fazalhaq and Hasan Ali, proved to be too much for Quetta’s batting lineup, leading to a comfortable victory for Islamabad. Overall, it was an exciting match that showcased the talent and competitiveness of PSL teams.