Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by 2 wickets in the 21st match of the HBL PSL 8.

Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators by 2 wickets in the 21st match of the HBL PSL 8.

Quetta Gladiators set a target of 180 runs for Islamabad United to win, but Islamabad United achieved victory by scoring 183 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 19.3 overs. Islamabad United had won the toss and elected to bowl first, and due to excellent batting by Mohammad Nawaz and Najeebullah Zadran, as well as impressive bowling by Omar Akmal, Quetta Gladiators made 179 runs for 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

Quetta Gladiators had a disappointing start to their innings, and lost all their tower play wickets. Gladiators were 19 runs for 4 wickets in 6 overs. However, when Gladiators began their innings, they faced difficulties from the start, and in the first over, Fazal Haque Farooqi dismissed Walim Smeed on the score of 3.

When the score reached 8, in the third over, Yaser Khan lost his wicket and returned to the pavilion towards the Peshawar side. After that, both captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Iftikhar Ahmed were also dismissed one after another.

After this, Mohammad Nawaz and Najeebullah Zadran steadied the team, and the two players formed a partnership of 104 runs, taking the team's score to 121. In the first ball of the 16th over, Faheem Ashraf caught Mohammad Nawaz's attempt to hit a shot, and the ball went straight into the hands of Mushtaq Ahmed.

Mohammad Nawaz of Quetta Gladiators played a brilliant innings but it was not enough for the team to win.

The Quetta Gladiators gave a target of 180 runs to Islamabad United, but in response, Islamabad United scored 183 runs, losing 8 wickets in 19.3 overs to win the match. Islamabad United won the toss and chose to bowl first. Quetta Gladiators made 179 runs for 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs, with Mohammad Nawaz and Najibullah Zadran playing exceptionally well. Quetta Gladiators had a difficult start in their innings, and in the first over, Fidel Edwards was caught out on Fawad Alam's ball.

The score was 8 when in the third over, Yasser Khan lost his wicket to Faheem Ashraf, followed by captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azam Khan, who were also dismissed in quick succession. Mohammad Nawaz and Najibullah Zadran then built a partnership of 104 runs, taking the team's score to 121, but in the 16th over, Fawad Alam caught Mohammad Nawaz on the ball of Fazal Haq Farooqi.

Mohammad Nawaz of Quetta Gladiators played an excellent innings, scoring 52 runs off 44 balls with the help of six boundaries. Fazal Haq Farooqi took three wickets, while Faheem Ashraf took two wickets for Islamabad United.

Afterwards, Fahim Ashraf joined forces with Azam Khan and both established a splendid partnership of 58 runs to stabilize the team's position. At a score of 169, Azam Khan, after hitting a boundary in the 19th over, got caught behind and departed towards Rawalpindi. He scored 35 runs off 25 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.

On the last ball of the 19th over, Islamabad United suffered the loss of their eighth wicket in the form of Hasan Ali. They needed 9 runs to win in the last over, but Fahim Ashraf hit three consecutive boundaries against Odine Smith to lead his team to victory.

Ameed Asif from Quetta Gladiators was the most successful bowler, taking 3 wickets for 37 runs in 4 overs. While Mohammad Nawaz took 2 wickets, and Nasim Shah, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Ifthikar Ahmed each took 1 wicket.