LAHORE: A collective batting display propelled Quetta Gladiators to a challenging total against Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 Qualifier 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first, the Gladiators compiled 209 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Their innings got off to a stuttering start as captain Saud Shakeel was dismissed by Ben Dwarshuis in the second over, with only 14 runs on the board.
Following the early loss, the in-form Rilee Rossouw joined Finn Allen at the crease, and the pair stitched together a stabilising 44-run stand for the second wicket before Rossouw was removed by Dwarshuis in the fifth over. Rossouw contributed a quickfire 16 off just eight balls, including two boundaries and a six.
The Gladiators suffered another setback during the power play as Hasan Nawaz was dismissed for just six.
Yeh Faheem hai ya firecracker? 💥
Kya timing hai boss! 🔥 #HBLPSLX | #ApnaXHai | #QGvIU pic.twitter.com/FNa7xclpOd— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 21, 2025
Finn Allen then shared another valuable partnership – a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket – before he and Fernando fell in successive overs, leaving the Gladiators at 113 for 5 in 11.5 overs.
Crucial partnership
Allen struck 41 off 27 deliveries, featuring seven fours, while Fernando chipped in with a brisk 32 off 21 balls, hitting two sixes and a four.
With the Gladiators in a spot of bother, Dinesh Chandimal and Faheem Ashraf mounted a brilliant counter-attack, adding a crucial 95 runs off just 49 balls for the sixth wicket.
Their partnership concluded when Ashraf was dismissed by Salman Irshad on the penultimate delivery of the innings.
Short and slow, Faheem said go! 🎯#HBLPSLX | #ApnaXHai | #QGvIU pic.twitter.com/w2hfHcadCO
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 21, 2025
Ashraf scored an aggressive 45 from 23 balls, peppered with four boundaries and three sixes. Chandimal remained unbeaten on 48 off 28 deliveries, hitting an equal number of boundaries.
For Islamabad United, Dwarshuis and Salman Irshad were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets each. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim took one wicket each.
