Dubai: A strong determined performance from under-rated Quetta Gladiators sunk formidable Islamabad United by eight wickets in the opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Dubai International Stadium. The contest, watched by nearly 15,000 spectators, was exactly what was needed to kick off a tournament, as the Twenty20 format lived up to its reputation of producing a winner that plays brilliantly on the day.
After an hour-long colourful opening ceremony, the spectators got their money’s worth through Quetta’s all-round performance, with Luke Wright cracking an unbeaten 86 off 53 balls with 11 boundaries and four sixes and his 59-run unconquered partnership with Mohammad Nawaz (22n.o). It was Nawaz who also destroyed Islamabad’s strong batting line-up with his accurate left-arm spin to return with figures of 4 for 13 in four overs. None expected that Quetta would win so emphatically with 24 balls to spare after restricting Islamabad to 128 for 7 in 20 overs. Except for a captain’s knock from Misbah-ul-Haq (41 off 28 balls) and an aggressive unbeaten 35 (20 balls) from Andre Russell, none of the other batsmen rose to the challenge to post a big total.
Quetta coached by the shrewd Moin Khan, and with Viv Richards as mentor, decided to bowl first after winning the toss. Islamabad opener Sharjeel Khan was the first to go by sweeping uppishly to Mohammad Nabi at square leg for 10. In the seventh over, Umar Gul had Umar Amin brilliantly caught by Luke Wright at backward point for a duck. The biggest blow for Islamabad came in the eighth over when Nawaz clean bowled opener Shane Watson, who went for a cut, missed and had his bails flying for 15.
Encouraged by the prized wicket of Watson, Nawaz bowled Sam Billing, who went for a reverse sweep, for 2. Nawaz also ended Babar Azam’s short knock of 15 runs by forcing him to mistime a shot and spoon an easy catch to Nabi at point. Nawaz also quickly removed Imran Khalid, who gave Nabi his third catch, by hitting to him at backward square leg for 4.
Six for 63 in 14 overs, Quetta mounted pressure despite Misbah’s fighting 41. Russell tried to hit his team out of trouble with a six off Nabi to mid-wicket but Anwar Ali dismissed Misbah in the 19th over, forcing him to pull a slower delivery into the hands of Gul at short fine leg.
Quetta openers Ahmad Shehzad and Wright gave a good start putting on 53 runs in just 4.3 overs. Though Khalid had Shehzad caught and bowled for 11 and also trapped Kevin Pietersen leg-before for 8, Nawaz and Wright played intelligently to ensure the victory through a stubborn partnership.
Brief scores:
Quetta Gladiators bt Islamabad United by eight wickets. Islamabad 128 for 7 in 20 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 41, Andre Russell 35n.o. Mohammad Nawaz 4 for 13) Quetta 132 for 2 in 16 overs (Luke Wright 86n.o, Mohammad Nawaz 22n.o, Imran Khalid 2 for 20) Man of the match: Mohammad Nawaz.
