KARACHI: Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators are poised to clash in the Eliminator 1 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Despite their bowlers conceding a substantial number of runs, Islamabad received significant contributions from their dynamic opener Colin Munro (84) and captain Shadab Khan (54), setting the stage for a successful chase before lower-order batsmen Faheem Ashraf (23) and Imad Wasim (30*) sealed the victory.
On the flip side, the Gladiators faltered against the Sultans, suffering a significant 79-run defeat. Neither their bowling nor their batting, led by Rilee Rossouw, could withstand the onslaught from the opposition.
Apart from left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (0/26) and batsman Omair Yousuf (37), the Gladiators struggled to find any positives from the match. They must turn their fortunes around if they aim to emerge victorious in this crucial knockout match against Islamabad.
The pitch at the National Bank Cricket Stadium in Karachi has favored the bowlers thus far and is anticipated to maintain its nature in Eliminator 1.
Playing XIs:
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hunain Shah, Naseem Shah, Tymal Mills.
Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel, Rilee Rossouw (c), Khawaja Nafay, Laurie Evans (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Omair Yousuf, Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.
