Survival hopes fading fast for embattled Quetta as Islamabad win

KARACHI: Former HBL Pakistan Super Organization champions Quetta Gladiators succumbed meekly to their 4th straight loss as Islamabad United cruised to a comfy six-wicket triumph at the National Stadium right here on Tuesday night.

The result additionally came as a sigh of relief for Islamabad, that lifted the desirable trophy two times in 2016 and 2018, as they finally finished a four-match losing streak versus Quetta when they got to the rather modest target of 157 in 17 overs after restricting their opponents to 156-7.

The sixth version’s component– which was postponed on Monday after Islamabad United spinner Fawad Ahmed returned a positive Covid-19 test– was naturally won by the side winning the toss as well as fielding. As Well As as soon as Sarfaraz Ahmed called inaccurately when Shadab Khan rotated the coin, the 12th outcome of runs been effectively chased down was never in doubt.

In spite of Sarfaraz hitting up a pugnacious half-century, Quetta shed momentum at the backend of their innings and also rounded up only 56 runs in the last 7 overs throughout which they handled a solitary 6 as well as one four, both being struck by Mohammad Nawaz (unbeaten 31 off 29 balls).

Paul Stirling then made short work of the lethargic Quetta bowling as the Ireland right-hander whipped 56 from 33 distributions– after racing to 52 in just 21 balls– while outscoring his more remarkable batting companion Alex Hales throughout their impressive first-wicket collaboration of 76 in 35 rounds.

Both Hales (23 off 13 rounds, 5 boundaries) and Stirling, that ground 8 fours and two sixes, was up to leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, who was the only brilliant spot for the Sarfaraz-led Quetta side.

Rohail Nazir, the upcoming wicket-keeper/batsman, succeeded on his PSL debut with a brisk 28-ball knock of 34 (four limits) up until he attempted to go hard at Dale Steyn, but only handled to locate Naseem Shah at mid-off prior to Asif Ali and also Hussain Talat finished the final rites.

Short on self-confidence in regards to batting falls down after these groups had experienced the humiliation of tape-recording the most affordable 2 overalls in this PSL– Quetta summoning 121 in the event’s opening video game versus Karachi Kings as well as Islamabad appropriating that tally by being flashed for 118 versus Peshawar Zalmi– Quetta were searching for improvement on all fronts.

Except the very first time, Quetta were let down by their brittleness on top of the order. And also Tuesday was no various either when Saim Ayub– the arising choice– fell short to get going once more when the young left-hander cut Hasan Ali to Stirling at point in the opening over.

Cameron Delport had his off puzzled plucked out of the ground by Faheem Ashraf– the unquestionable celebrity entertainer of the evening with stunning numbers of 3 for 11 in his four-over stint that also saw the seamer delivered no less than 14 dot spheres– prior to Hasan rejected Faf du Plessis, trapped in front for 17.

And when Azam Khan left for just 4, captured by Iftikhar Ahmed off man-of-the-match Faheem, Quetta remained in deep quarrel at 41-4 in the sixth over. Sarfaraz, however, hesitated to throw in the towel and along with Mohammad Nawaz obtained the setting rather in partnership of 63 from 40 distributions.

The highpoint of the suit was when Sarfaraz– who had gone across the magical number of 1,000 runs in PSL when he had scored four– bludgeoned Iftikhar for four sixes on the trot in the 13th over, but once he was stated LBW by Ahsan Raza for 54 (41 spheres, three fours as well as four sixes), Quetta’s hopes of setting a challenging target for Islamabad merely overcame.

Sarfaraz seemingly looked dissatisfied at being considered leg in the past, while the DRS validated umpire Ahsan had actually gotten on the area. Whatever transpired in between them later on as Sarfaraz trudged off, the captain currently can not afford to relax as Quetta fight to stay in the hunt for playoffs as they prepare face Multan Sultans on Wednesday after the day component between Karachi Kings and also Peshawar Zalmi.

Scoreboard

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Batsmen & mode of dismissals R B 4s 6s SR

Saim Ayub c Stirling b Hasan 5 3 1 0 166.66

C.S. Delport b Faheem 1 3 0 0 33.33

F. du Plessis lbw b Hasan 17 11 3 0 154.54

Sarfaraz Ahmed lbw b Faheem 54 41 3 4 131.70

Azam Khan c Iftikhar b Faheem 4 9 0 0 44.44

B.C.J. Cutting st Rohail b Shadab 23 17 2 1 135.29

Mohammad Nawaz not out 31 29 1 1 106.89

Zahid Mahmood run out 5 6 0 0 83.33

Dale Steyn not out 0 0 0 0