Misbah-ul-Haq's men beat Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets to take inaugural edition of Pakistan's premier Twenty20 league.

By PakPassion.net Staff (23rd February, 2016)

Result : Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets - Quetta Gladiators 174/7 (20/20) Islamabad United 175/4 (18.4/20)

Toss: Islamabad United won the toss and elected to ball

Quetta Gladiators: Ahmed Shehzad, Bismillah Khan, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Grant Elliott, Mohammad Nawaz, Nathan McCullum, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Aizaz Cheema

Islamabad United: Sharjeel Khan, Dwayne Smith, Brad Haddin(w), Khalid Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Andre Russell, Asif Ali, Samuel Badree, Imran Khalid, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Irfan

Quetta Gladiators inninigs: A typical Quetta innings, with fights, guts and a never die attitude. Despite losing two early wicktes Shehzad and Sangakkara stepped up. Both were superb and added 90 in 9 overs, just as Quetta were looking set for 190+ United struck. Quetta lost four wickets in the next three overs, United will be pleased at how they came back in the game. Highlight was ofcourse Shehzad's brilliant 64, he was aggressive and looked excellent. More pressure on the selectors when it comes to Manzoor's selection. Sangakkara saved his best for the big game, a true indication of what a legend and world class player he has been.

FOW:

1-0 (Bismillah Khan , 0.3 overs)
2-33 (Pietersen , 5.1 overs)
3-120 (Sangakkara , 14.3 overs)
4-135 (Mohammad Nawaz , 15.4 overs)
5-147 (Ahmed Shehzad , 16.3 overs)
6-153 (Sarfraz , 17.4 overs)
7-168 (Anwar Ali , 19.4 overs)

Islamabad United innings: Where were you hiding Dwayne? Superb start from him in this innings, attacked the bowlers mercilessly and was supported well by his partners. Sharjeel look good again but was dismissed after a poor shot. His wicket however stopped the rampaging start but United still stood strong at 83/1 after ten overs. Smith having made 58 runs out of 83. There was nothing Quetta could do, Smith plundered his way every over, hitting the biggest six of the PSL in the process, Haddin also joined in and the Gladiators looked stunned and had no answers. At 130/1 after 14 overs the game looked over, United made sure there were no hiccups. However Quetta almost clawed their way back in, with quick wickets of Smith and Russell but it wasn't to be, Misbah's men in the end won comfortably with 10 balls remaining and they were superb as they have been the last five games.

FOW:

1-54 (S Khan , 5.4 overs)
2-139 (Dwayne Smith , 15.3 overs)
3-147 (A Russell , 16.1 overs)
4-173 (K Latif , 18.2 overs)

Match summary: Superb from United, from being down and out at the start they have gone on an unbeaten streak of five matches and won the PSL, excellent from Misbah's men! They have taken everyone by surprise, beating the big boys and favorites Zalmi and Quetta and beaten them convincingly. Quetta will be crestfallen after being the best team (other than the final) but it has been a very good display by a side noone fancied to reach the final. For the PSL, it has been a very good tournament, good crowds on a lot of days and Sharjah especially. Whether PCB can build on this or not is the big question!

Discuss!