With the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 now in its second leg, the teams have buckled up as the tournament continues to produce last over thrillers. The 18th match of the ongoing season ended in Quetta Gladiators' favour as their batters pushed them towards victory in the clash against Islamabad United, chasing another huge total.
As Sarfaraz Ahmed chose to bowl first, Islamabad United focused on neutralising the toss advantage with their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Alex Hales not letting the bowlers settle.
Starting with a bang, Hales batted like a force but lost his partner Gurbaz in the fifth over as the opening stand ended at the score of 48. Skipper Shadab Khan walked in at number three but the Englishman did the bulk of the scoring. Hales did not compromise on his strike rate and displayed a great show of batsmanship. However, as the team's score went past 100, the opener, unfortunately, got run-out for 62 runs in mere 38 deliveries.
Wickets tumbled thereafter as the former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi brought his old magic back and claimed quick wickets. But Faheem Ashraf handled the innings and scored a vital half-century under pressure. Mohammad Wasim Jr smashed two sixes in the final two deliveries to take the team's total to 199 runs.
Opening for the Gladiators, Jason Roy carried on from where he left. The hard-hitting player tore the opposition bowlers' to pieces, scoring runs at a rapid pace. On the other end, Ahsan Ali adopted a cautious approach. Roy departed for 54 runs as his dismissal ended the 88-run opening partnership. Ahsan followed his opening partner in the dressing room in the very next over with Quetta now two down for 92 runs.
James Vince and Sarfaraz Khan then joined hands as the team required quick runs from the experienced batters. Vince looked solid but eventually got out, trying to accelerate. Shadab Khan soon provided another breakthrough as he dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed and recorded his third wicket in the match.
The game was in Islamabad's corner but the Umar Akmal blitz stole the show. Akmal gave a much-needed impetus to the innings and hammered 23 runs in eight balls. Sarfaraz also shifted the gears and hammered big strokes. Quetta's captain played an unbeaten 50-run knock and took his side home in a nail-biting encounter.