Sameer Minhas’unbeaten 82 and Shadab Khan’s 69 not out with the bat and three for 23 with the ball helped Islamabad United cruise past Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets as they chased the 184-run target with 10 balls to spare in the first game of the third double-header of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.
Islamabad moved up to fourth in the table with three points, just behind third-placed Peshawar Zalmi who edge them on net run rate.
With United 61 for two in 6.5 overs after Abrar struck to remove Devon Conway (18, 19b, 2x4s, 1×6) and and Andries Gous (2, 4b) in his successive overs, Shadab stitched an unbeaten match-winning 128-run partnership for the third wicket with Sameer to take their side home.
The duo took some time to settle in before striking 22 off Tom Curran in the 12th over. Sameer bagged a boundary off the first ball while Shadab hit two fours and a six.
At 113 for two after 13 overs, Shadab and Sameer ran riot, producing 76 runs off the next 5.2 overs, taking their side home comfortably.
Shadab struck Usman Tariq for a six in the 14th over that gained 12 runs before hitting another six and a boundary off Ahmed Daniyal in the next, an over that gained 16 runs.
The duo thumped another six and a boundary off Usman in the 13-run 16th over, before doing the same to Abrar in the next one, getting 14 runs.
Sameer brought an end to the contest in style as he hit Ahmed for a six over fine leg in the 19th over. Sameer shone with 82 off 48 balls; his highest maiden half-century in all competitive cricket, aided by eight fours and three sixes.
Shadab backed his bowling performance as he struck five fours and four sixes in his 39-ball 69 not out.
Earlier, Quetta Gladiators had recovered from a precarious position courtesy an unbeaten 90-run partnership between Hasan Nawaz and Tom Curran to post 183 for five.
Brief scores:
Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Quetta Gladiators 183-5, 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 66 not out, Saud Shakeel 42, Tom Curran 29 not out, Shamyl Hussain 21; Shadab Khan 3-23)
Islamabad United 189-2, 18.2 overs (Sameer Minhas 82 not out, Shadab Khan 69 not out; Abrar Ahmed 2-29)
Player of the match: Shadab Khan (Islamabad United)
Source: Khaleej Times