Shehzad, Fawad bring United down by 43 runs

ABU DHABI: Top-ranked Quetta Gladiators' opener Ahmad Shehzad and spinner Fawad Ahmed slammed down Islamabad United by 43 runs in the second fixture of the day.

Soon after the departure of Luke Ronchi on 64 after hitting seven boundaries and three sixes. It was all downhill for the United. The 181-run chase started looking distant as the team kept losing wickets against Gladiators' bowling attack. 

Fawad Ahmed took three wickets, while Sohail Tanvir and Muhammad Hasnain picked two each. Muhammad Nawaz and DJ Bravo got one wicket respectively.

First Innings

Shezad's half-century cemented a formidable 181-run target against Islamabad United. The opener scored 73 runs off 46 balls with nine boundaries and a six, while middle-order batsman Umar Akmal assisted him with 27 off 17.

Faheem Ashraf picked four wickets, Ammad Butt picked three, Samit Patel and Zafar Gauhar bagged one each.

Gladiators took on Islamabad United after a victory over Peshawar Zalmi took the Sarfraz XI all the way to the playoffs of the ongoing Pakistan Super League.

Quetta thrashed Peshawar by eight wickets in the PSL ‘Clasico’ on Monday, powered by Shane Watson’s unbeaten 91 off 55 balls that left the match unceremoniously one-sided. His fiery batting overshadowed Kamran Akmal’s 72 off 50 and Kieron Pollard’s 44 off 21, earning him yet another Player of the Match award.

Their place in the playoffs safe, today’s match was a dead rubber for Quetta.