In a rather lop-sided first eliminator match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024, Shadab Khan's Islamabad United secured an easy 39-run victory against Quetta Gladiators on March 15. Veteran New Zealand batter Martin Guptill played a pivotal role in Islamabad's win by scoring 56 runs off 47 balls with the help of five fours and a six. Guptill's knock propelled Islamabad to a score of 174 runs in 20 overs.
Islamabad United opts to bat
Opening the innings for Islamabad United, Guptill dazzled with his attractive shots and kept the scoreboard ticking at decent clip. While his opening partner Alex Hales could only contribute 23 runs from 20 balls, which included a four and two sixes, the foundation for a good score was laid by Guptill.
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Aga Salman made a valuable contribution with 31 runs from 21 deliveries, hitting two fours and a six. Guptill, however, remained the anchor of the innings with his 56 runs comprising five fours and a six, propelling Islamabad to a total of 174/9.
Quetta Gladiators sink under pressure
Quetta Gladiators' chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost 5 wickets for just 16 runs, severely denting their hopes of achieving the target. This early collapse made it extremely difficult for Quetta to mount a comeback, and victory for Islamabad United started to look inevitable. Despite the adverse situation, Omer Yusuf fought valiantly for Quetta, scoring 50 runs off 37 balls, including four fours and a six. However, his efforts were not enough to steer his team towards victory.
Quetta could only manage to score 135 runs before being bowled out in 18.4 overs, handing Islamabad a comfortable win. The bowling attack of Islamabad United was spearheaded by Imad Wasim, who claimed three wickets. Naseem Shah also made significant contributions by taking two wickets, playing a crucial role in dismantling Quetta's batting lineup.
This win ensured that Islamabad United would advance to face Peshawar Zalmi in the second eliminator. Peshawar Zalmi, under the leadership of Babar Azam, presents a formidable challenge, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting contest.
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