PSL 2023: Afghan pacer Farooqi shines, Islamabad make play-offs

Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by two wickets at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

While chasing a target of 180 runs, Islamabad reached home in 19.3 overs.

They became the second team to qualify for the playoffs after Lahore Qalandars.

During the run-chase, Islamabad lost a wicket in the first over when Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) was dismissed by Naseem Shah.

However, Colin Munro and Alex Hales took the attack to Quetta by adding 52 runs in 25 balls.

Hales fell after scoring 12 runs in nine balls after a sharp reflex catch by Najibullah Zadran off the bowling of Naveen-ul-Haq.

Munro was joined by skipper Shadab Khan but the latter was dismissed cheaply for just 8 runs.

Munro continued his charge on the other end, smacking four sixes and five fours in his 29-ball 63.

He was removed by Iftikhar Ahmed in the eighth over as he searched for another maximum.

From 96-2, Islamabad United crashed to 111-6 in the 12th over.

Azam Khan and Faheem Ashraf stabilised the innings with a 58 runs stand in 44 balls before Azam (35 off 25) and Hasan Ali fell in quick succession.

However, Faheem (39 not out off 31) kept his cool and smashed three fours in succession off Odean Smith to pull off a two-wicket triumph for his side.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators were condemned to a horrible start to their innings after being put into bat first by Shadab Khan.

The wickets kept tumbling for the visitors as they were reduced to 17-4 in the sixth over, unable to cope with Fazalhaq Farooqi’s nippy swing.

Farooqi struck in the first over after he trapped Will Smeed, who bagged a golden duck, in front of the stumps.

The Afghanistan pacer clinched his second wicket in the third over after Yasir Khan spooned one straight to Shadab Khan at extra cover.

The pair of Najibullah Zadran (59 off 34) and Mohammad Nawaz (52 off 44) added 104 runs off 64 deliveries for the fifth wicket, reviving Quetta Gladiators’ innings.

Najibullah was the aggressor of the two as he reached his fifty off 28 balls and smoked a total of five boundaries and three sixes in his brilliant knock.

Nawaz’s dismissal in the 17th over off Farooqi brought Umar Akmal to the crease, who slammed a quick-fire 43 not out off just 14 balls.

Quetta Gladiators, who are at the bottom of the points table, are nearly eliminated from PSL 8.

They need to win all their remaining games and hope other results go their way if they’re to get through to the playoffs.

Scores

Quetta Gladiators 179-6, 20 overs (Najibullah Zadran 59, Mohammad Nawaz 52, Umar Akmal 43 not out; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-25, Faheem Ashraf 2-29)

Islamabad United 183-8, 19.3 overs (Colin Munro 63, Faheem Ashraf 39 not out, Azam Khan 35; Umaid Asif 3-37, Mohammad Nawaz 2-17)

Player of the match – Fazalhaq Farooqi (Islamabad United)

Teams

Quetta Gladiators:

Yasir Khan, Will Smeed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Najibullah Zadran, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk/c), Umar Akmal, Mohammad Nawaz, Odean Smith, Umaid Asif, Naseem Shah, Naveen-ul-Haq

Islamabad United:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan (c), Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees, Fazalhaq Farooqi