MATCH REPORT
Follow UsAn unbeaten 137-run partnership for the opening wicket between Colin Munro and Usman Khawaja gave Islamabad United an emphatic 10-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in match 18 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 in Abu Dhabi on Friday (June 11).
With this win, United jump to third place with six points from five matches, while the Gladiators are still rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points from five games. Chasing 134 to win, the openers Munro and Usman hammered Gladiators to all parts of the ground and chased down the target in the 10th over. Munro scored 90 off 36, hitting 12 fours and five gigantic sixes, while his partner Khawaja scored 27-ball 40, which included six fours and a six.
During the match, Naseem Shah was brought in as a concussion replacement for Andre Russell who was hit by a bouncer from Musa Khan during the 14th over of Quetta’s batting. Earlier, after being put into bat by United captain Shadab Khan, the Gladiators were bowled out off the last ball of their 20 overs for 133.
The Gladiators lost wickets at the regular intervals and only four batsmen managed to reach double figures. Jake Weatherald who made his PSL debut, top-scored with 43 off 35 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes. The left-handed batsman contributed 39 runs for the third-wicket partnership – the best of the innings with Azam Khan (26).
For United, right-arm pacers Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Musa took two wickets apiece.
Brief scores:
Quetta Gladiators 133 in 20 overs (Jake Weatherald 43, Azam Khan 26; Mohammad Wasim 2 for 12) lost to Islamabad United 137 for 0 in 10 overs (Colin Munro 90*, Usman Khawaja 41*) by 10 wickets
Player of the match: Colin Munro
(Image courtesy: PCB)
(With inputs from PSL media release)