Quetta Gladiators stormed into the final of PSL X after a comprehensive 30-run victory over Islamabad United in the Qualifier at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night. The star of the evening was Faheem Ashraf, whose all-round brilliance—both with bat and ball—propelled Quetta into their first PSL final since 2019.
After electing to bat first, Quetta were in trouble at 113 for 5 in the 12th over, but a rescuing sixth-wicket partnership of 95 runs between Dinesh Chandimal and Faheem Ashraf turned the tide. Chandimal remained unbeaten on 48 off 28 balls (4x4s, 3x6s), while Faheem smashed a crucial 45 off 23 deliveries (4x4s, 3x6s), falling just before the innings ended.
Earlier, Finn Allen (41 off 27) and Avishka Fernando (32 off 21) gave Quetta a rapid start before a middle-order wobble brought United back into the game. But Chandimal and Faheem’s late assault pushed the total to an imposing 209 for 6 — a challenging score under pressure.
In reply, Islamabad United never fully recovered after the early loss of Alex Hales, bowled by Faheem for a duck in the second over. Though Sahibzada Farhan (52 off 35) and Rassie van der Dussen (35 off 23) stitched a 71-run stand, wickets at regular intervals halted United’s chase.
Salman Ali Agha added a fighting 44 off 26, but after his dismissal, United’s lower order collapsed under scoreboard pressure. They were eventually bowled out for 179 in 19.4 overs, handing Quetta a deserving place in Sunday’s grand finale.
Faheem returned with the ball to claim 2 for 33, complementing Usman Tariq’s 3 for 32, while Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim Jnr picked up two wickets apiece in a clinical bowling performance.
Despite the loss, defending champions Islamabad United still have a chance to reach the final through Eliminator 2 on 23 May.
Scores in brief:
Qualifier – Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United by 30 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Quetta Gladiators: 209-6 in 20 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 48*, Faheem Ashraf 45, Finn Allen 41, Avishka Fernando 32; Ben Dwarshuis 2-31, Salman Irshad 2-34)
Islamabad United: 179 all out in 19.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 52, Salman Ali Agha 44, Rassie van der Dussen 35; Usman Tariq 3-32, Faheem Ashraf 2-33, Mohammad Amir 2-31, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-38)
Player of the Match: Faheem Ashraf (Quetta Gladiators)
Next Fixture:
Eliminator 1 – Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars, Thursday, 23 May at Gaddafi Stadium; 7:30 PM PKT
Leave a Reply