LAHORE – A whirlwind knock by youngster Sameer Minhas backed by a superb all-round display from captain Shadab Khan steered Islamabad United to their first victory of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 as they crushed Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday. Chasing 184, United achieved the target with 10 balls to spare for the loss of only two wickets thanks to Sameer’s unbeaten career-best knock of 82 and 69 not out from Shadab.
United had lost one match in the ongoing season while their second game was washed out. For Gladiators, it was their second loss of the edition. Shadab, earlier in the day, fared impressively with the leather (3-23) to earn the player-of-the-match award.
The Chase
United lost opener Devon Conway (18 off 19 balls), caught by Ahmed Daniyal at short third man off mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, as United ended the powerplay at a solid 58-1. Andries Gous (two) was cleaned up by Abrar in the seventh over to leave United at 61-2.
At this stage, opener Sameer and Shadab took charge to make sure they did not lose any more wickets as they built a match-winning partnership of 128 runs while cruising towards the target. Batting in an aggressive mode, the duo helped their side reach 100 off 11.4 overs. Sameer completed his fifty in just 32 balls while Shadab reached his off just 29.
Sameer faced just 48 balls, striking eight fours and three sixes, while Shadab plundered five fours and four sixes during his 39-ball blast. The pair then raced to 150 off 15.4 overs, making the target look much easier, and completed their 100-run stand off a mere 57 balls.
For Gladiators, Abrar took two wickets for 29 runs while the rest struggled.
Gladiators’ Innings
Earlier, after electing to bat first, Gladiators posted 183-5 off the stipulated 20 overs thanks to Hasan Nawaz’s belligerent 66 not out. However, the total did not prove enough in the end.
After skipper Saud Shakeel (42 off 26) and Shamyl Hussain (21 off 15) got their team to a flying start of 50 in just 4.2 overs, the team dipped in the middle, losing five wickets for the addition of 43 runs in around seven overs.
Gladiators had raced to 60-1 in the powerplay after having lost Shamyl, who was dismissed by pacer Salman Irshad in the fifth over. Saud’s crucial scalp was claimed by Shadab in the ninth over as the batter failed to play a slog sweep and was caught by Haider Ali at backward point. Saud hit three fours and as many sixes. The scoreboard read 71-2.
The skipper was followed by Khawaja Nafay (18 off 14), dismissed by slow left-arm orthodox spinner Imad Wasim in the 11th over, which made it 88-3. Ben McDermott (three) and Bevon Jacobs (nought) were sent back to the hut on successive balls by Shadab in the next over.
Gladiators were now 93-5, and a collapse was on the cards, but it was not to be as Hasan and Tom Curran (29 not out off 22 balls) got together to stitch a 90-run unbeaten stand. After posting 100 in 13.1 overs, they changed gears to touch 150 in 18 overs. Hasan faced 36 balls and struck six fours and three sixes, while Curran hit a couple of fours and a maximum.
Besides Shadab’s three-wicket burst, Imad and Salman chipped in with a wicket each.
Scoreboard
Quetta Gladiators:
- Saud Shakeel c Haider b Shadab 42
- Shamyl Hussain c Haider b Salman 21
- Khawaja Nafay c Haider b Imad 18
- Hasan Nawaz not out 66
- Ben McDermott b Shadab 3
- Bevon Jacobs c&b Shadab 0
- Tom Curran not out 29
- Extras: 4
- Total: 183/5 (20 overs)
Islamabad United:
- Devon Conway c Ahmed b Abrar 18
- Sameer Minhas not out 82
- Andries Gous b Abrar 2
- Shadab Khan not out 69
- Extras: 18
- Total: 189/2 (18.2 overs)
Man of the Match
Shadab Khan was named Player of the Match for his superb all-round performance, taking 3 for 23 with the ball and scoring an unbeaten 69 off 39 balls with the bat.
The win gives Islamabad United their first points of the season after a loss and a washed-out game. For Quetta Gladiators, it was their second loss of the edition, leaving them searching for momentum. United’s clinical chase, powered by the young Sameer Minhas and captain Shadab, sends a strong message to the rest of the tournament about their resilience and batting depth.
