Sameer, Shadab lead Islamabad United to first win over Quetta Gladiators

LAHORE: Islamabad United registered their first win of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 on Thursday, defeating Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets at Gaddafi Stadium after an unbeaten stand between Sameer Minhas and captain Shadab Khan sealed a successful chase of 184.

United reached 189-2 in 18.2 overs, with 10 balls remaining, after Sameer struck an unbeaten career-best 82 and Shadab made 69 not out. The result gave Islamabad their first victory of the season after one defeat and one washed-out match, while Quetta suffered their second loss of the tournament.

Shadab also made a major impact with the ball, returning figures of 3-23 and earning the player-of-the-match award.

United recover after early wickets

Chasing 184, Islamabad lost Devon Conway for 18 off 19 balls when he was caught by Ahmed Daniyal at short third man off Abrar Ahmed. United were 58-1 at the end of the powerplay.

Abrar struck again in the seventh over when he bowled Andries Gous for two, leaving Islamabad at 61-2. From there, Sameer and Shadab took control and ensured there were no further setbacks.

The pair added an unbroken 128 runs for the third wicket in a match-winning partnership. Islamabad brought up 100 in 11.4 overs, while Sameer completed his half-century in 32 balls and Shadab reached the mark in 29 deliveries. Their 100-run stand came off 57 balls, and the side moved to 150 in 15.4 overs.

Sameer’s 82 came from 48 balls and included eight fours and three sixes. Shadab’s 69 was scored off 39 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes. For Quetta, Abrar finished with 2-29, while the rest of the bowling attack was unable to contain the chase.

Hasan Nawaz, Curran lift Quetta after middle-order slide

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators made 183-5 in their 20 overs after electing to bat first, with Hasan Nawaz top-scoring with an unbeaten 66.

Quetta made a brisk start through captain Saud Shakeel and Shamyl Hussain, who put on 50 in 4.2 overs. Shamyl made 21 off 15 balls before he was dismissed by Salman Irshad in the fifth over. Quetta were 60-1 in the powerplay.

Saud contributed 42 off 26 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, before Shadab had him caught by Haider Ali at backward point in the ninth over, reducing Quetta to 71-2. Khawaja Nafay then made 18 off 14 balls before falling to Imad Wasim in the 11th over with the score at 88-3.

Quetta then lost Ben McDermott for three and Bevon Jacobs for nought on successive balls to Shadab, slipping to 93-5 and appearing in danger of a collapse.

However, Hasan and Tom Curran rebuilt the innings with an unbeaten 90-run partnership. Quetta reached 100 in 13.1 overs and accelerated to 150 by the 18th over. Hasan’s 66 not out came off 36 balls and included six fours and three sixes, while Curran remained unbeaten on 29 from 22 balls with two fours and one six.

Besides Shadab’s three wickets, Imad and Salman claimed one wicket each for Islamabad.

Scores in brief

Quetta Gladiators 183-5 in 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 66 not out, Saud Shakeel 42, Tom Curran 29 not out; Shadab Khan 3-23, Imad Wasim 1-37, Salman Irshad 1-42).

Islamabad United 189-2 in 18.2 overs (Sameer Minhas 82 not out, Shadab Khan 69 not out, Devon Conway 18; Abrar Ahmed 2-29).

Result: Islamabad United won by eight wickets.

Man of the match: Shadab Khan.