Islamabad United outclass Quetta Gladiators and register a 49-run victory

Islamabad United clubbed 17 fours and 15 sixes, and Quetta Gladiators reciprocated with 15 fours and nine sixes as the former won a 415-run aggregate match by 43 runs in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2022 at the National Stadium on Thursday.

Colin Munro slapped three fours and five sixes in a 39-ball 72 not out, Azam Khan belted two fours and six sixes in a 35-ball 65, Paul Stirling canned seven fours and three sixes in a 28-ball 58 and Alex Hales struck five fours in a nine-ball 22 as Islamabad United collected 229 for four after being put into bat.

Quetta Gladiators looked clueless in their run-chase, which was further compounded by accurate bowling and athletic fielding to be bundled out for 186 in 19.3 overs after they had slipped to 110 for seven before Mohammad Nawaz and James Faulkner added 76 runs for the eighth wicket.

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan registered his maiden five-fer, finishing with figures of 4-0-28-5, with his scalps including Ahsan Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shahid Afridi.

The result means Islamabad United notched up their second win in three matches to leapfrog Lahore Qalandars into second place on net run-rate. Multan Sultans sits on top of the table with eight points, while Quetta Gladiators have remained on two points from four matches, followed by Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings.