Azam Khan's blitzkrieg helped Islamabad rock Sarfaraz Ahmed's Quetta Gladiators by 63 runs in the 13th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 in Karachi on Friday (February 24). Riding on Azam's lightning 97 off 42, United posted a colossal target of 221 and then wrapped up Gladiators for just 157 as Sarfaraz's side lost the last six wickets in just 25 runs.
While chasing a monumental target, Quetta couldn't find the momentum as they lost quick wickets. Star all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez played a vital knock of 48 off 26 to steady Quetta's boat as he stitched together a 69-run stand with Sarfaraz for the fourth wicket. However, the batter fell to the Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the 11th over.
Sarfaraz too was sent to pavilion by Shadab after scoring 41 off 26. The Islamabad captain Shadab struck again in the same over and dismissed Mohammad Nawaz (1 off 2). Iftikhar Ahmed tried to rescue Gladiators but he couldn't sustain for long and fell prey to Hasan Ali after contributing 39 off 27. All-rounder Odean Smith, Mohammad Hasnain, and Naseem Shah were sent back inside five deliveries. Debutant Fazalhaq cleaned up Martin Guptill for a duck with a brilliant in-swinging delivery.
In the second over, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed struck as he trapped Jason Roy (5) for an lbw. Later, on the first ball of his second over, the spinner bowled out Will Smeed, reducing Quetta to 23-3. The young English batter looked in good touch but could gather only 17 runs. Fazalhaq and Hasan Ali claimed three wickets each while Shadab and Abrab secured two scalps each for the winners.
Earlier, Azam Khan shined as Islamabad United set a mammoth target of 221 runs against Quetta Gladiators. Azam smoked 97 runs in 42 balls which was decorated with nine boundaries and eight sixes. After the Gladiators claimed quick wickets, Azam and Asif Ali paired to bolster United's innings as they put together a sensational 98-run partnership off just 45 balls for the fifth wicket. Asif cracked 42 runs off 24 balls riding on a boundary and four sixes.
After Asif's departure, Azam continued his blitzkrieg and then put on a 51-run with Faheem Ashraf (17) to help his side post a mammoth total.
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