Quetta needed just 7 off the last two overs but ended up losing by one run.

By Abdullah Ansari (24th February, 2016)

Islamabad United Team

Dwayne Smith, Rafatullah Mohmand, Brad Haddin, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Shane Watson, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees, Mohammad Sami, Samuel Badree, Mohammad Irfan.

Quetta Gladiators Team

Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Rossouw, Sarfraz Ahmed*†, Mahmudullah Riad, Anwar Ali, Thisara Perera, Mohammad Nawaz, Hassan Khan, Zulfiqar Babar.

Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to field with both teams making a couple of changes apiece. The incoming Zulfiqar struck straight away for Quetta to remove Smith for a duck. Rafatullah went for the big shots and was dropped by Rossouw while Talat was circumspect to start as only 30 were scored off the first five overs. However, Talat then went after the spinners in just his first PSL appearance though Rafatullah was dismissed for 17 by Perera. Talat brought up his fifty off 34 balls before being dismissed by Zulfiqar for 56. Haddin played a short cameo before he fell to Hassan while Misbah struggled for his run-a-ball 25 and was dismissed by Anwar. Watson finished strongly with a quickfire 29 as 43 were taken off the last 3 overs as Islamabad made 165/6.

Islamabad began their defence well as Asad Shafiq was dismissed by Irfan cheaply in just the third over. Shehzad responded with a few boundaries to ease the nerves. Shehzad dominated the first half of the partnership with Pietersen, handling the spinners with ease as he brought up his fifty off 39 balls. Pietersen took over thereafter, hitting some effortless shots as he got to a 31-ball fifty. His innings was brought to an end for 69 via an incorrect LBW decision as he was given out off Shadab though replays showed the ball was bouncing over the stumps. Sami then removed Shehzad, caught at the boundary and the equation was reduced to 7 off 2 overs. The penultimate over was bowled by Rumman and he got Sarfraz out, leaving 5 to get off the last over. Anwar missed the first couple of deliveries as Sami opted for length balls, and then Rossouw missed one to make the equation 4 off 2 balls. The batsmen tried to steal a second run on the penultimate delivery but a direct hit saw Anwar short of his crease; Rossouw was able to get only one on the last ball, as Quetta choked to a stunning one-run loss after being well in control of the game.

Next match: Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars

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