The towering giant, Irfan, will open the attack.
Andre Russell has given a glimmer of hope for Islamabad United by cracking an entertaining innings. Can Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad turn it on with a slew of boundaries and ensure Quetta Gladiators' victory?
Andre Russell and Misbah-ul-Haq played quick-fire knocks to give respectability to Islamabad United's total. Both of them landed some hefty blows in the slog overs. In fact, Russell clobbered the experienced seamer, Umar Gul, for three fours and a six in the 18th over. Earlier, on a track that assisted the spinners, none of the top-order batsmen made an impression. It was Mohammad Nawaz, who shone brightly for Quetta Gladiators by bowling parsimoniously and ended up with four scalps. There will definitely be questions though about holding Russell back. We all saw how dangerous he can be and maybe if they had unleashed him a little early, the score would have been closer to 140. If the spinners make their mark, it might still turn out to be a tricky chase for Quetta...
19.6 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, FOUR, aiming for the yorker, he bowls a low full toss on off, Russell mows it to the left of long-on and it crashes into the fence in a jiffy. Such small margins of error in this form of the game
19.5 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, no run, Russell tries to put the bowler off my premeditating a scoop before he once again goes back to slash it into the off-side, Gul though bowls a slower one outside off, the batsmen swings hard but can't connect
19.4 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, no run, another beauty at this stage. Yorker around the off stump, Russell jams it out into the off-side
19.3 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, 2 runs, Russell goes deep in the crease to make this yorker length delivery into a half-volley, hacks it in the gap wide of long-on, manages to come back for the second with ease in the end
19.2 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, no run, brilliant ball from Gul. Right in the blockhole aiming for the base of middle, Russell backs away and just about gets his bat down in time to squeeze it out, ekes out an under edge that rolls away towards short fine
19.1 -
Umar Gul to Badree, 1 run, direct-hit and Badree was a goner! Badree mistimes his punch to the left of mid-wicket and sets off, he had given up as the fielder quickly gets to it and underarms the throw at the non-striker's end. The ball seemed to have brushed the stumps but nothing moved. Badree is lucky to be still out there
18.6 -
Anwar Ali to Badree, 1 run, bowls this slightly wide outside off, Badree tries to fetch the pull from there, toe-ends it towards the point region and the batsmen cross over for a quick single
Samuel Badree, right handed bat, comes to the crease
18.5 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, out Caught by Umar Gul!! Misbah departs, but only after bailing his team out of trouble. At least to an extent. Something that he has done time and again for Pakistan. Slower short ball on the stumps, Misbah goes for the pull, doesn't connect too well and Gul at short fine leg bends down and takes a good low catch. Misbah c Umar Gul b Anwar Ali 41(28) [4s-4 6s-1]
Anwar Ali to Misbah, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
18.5 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, wide, another one that's wayward outside off, Misbah has put the bowler under pressure. Well outside the umpire's guideline and another wide has been signalled
18.4 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, FOUR, Misbah goes right across his stumps and hoicks this length delivery through mid-wicket, the fielder in the deep runs to his left but the ball beats him to the fence
18.4 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, wide, way wide outside off, Misbah reaches out and then lets it go, called a wide
18.3 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, no run, pitched up well outside off, Misbah drives it straight to extra cover
A fielding change now as there's a deep point in place after the last two boundaries
18.2 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, FOUR, slower ball that's slightly short wide outside off, Misbah waits for the ball to arrive, steers it late and gets it in the gap between short third man and backward point, runs away to the fence. Pure class from Misbah. 50-run stand also comes up
18.1 -
Anwar Ali to Misbah, FOUR, length delivery on the stumps, Misbah swings across the line a little too early, gets a fat top-edge that balloons over short third man and dribbles away to the fence. Lucky runs but Misbah won't mind it one bit
Anwar Ali [2.0-1-6-0] is back into the attack
17.6 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, no run, slower back of a length delivery outside off, Russell slashes hard but only connects with thin air. Best over of the innings, 20 runs came off it
17.5 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, FOUR, he is smashing 'em all! Pitched up outside off, Russell clears his front leg and drives it hard through extra cover, absolutely murdered it as the sweeper hardly had a few yards to cover to his right, but he just couldn't get there
17.4 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, SIX, even better! Just dismissed it from his presence. Gul is taking a pasting now. Short on the stumps, Russell rocks back and muscles the pull over the deep mid-wicket fence, sails way beyond the rope
17.3 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, FOUR, that's Russell's power for you! He has smashed that to the fence. Pitched up outside off, Russell drills it to the left of the diving extra cover and the ball rocketed away to the fence like a bullet. Pietersen at extra cover stands up and admires the shot
17.2 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, FOUR, slower ball on a length just outside off, Russell picks the length early, waits for the ball to arrive and swats it over mid-wicket, crashes into the fence in a jiffy
17.1 -
Umar Gul to A Russell, 2 runs, full toss on the stumps, Russell clears his front leg and swings across the line, didn't get it off the middle and deep mid-wicket does really well to get his body behind it as the ball falls right in front of him. He may have gotten hit on the face there, but he manages to save two runs for his side
Umar Gul [1.0-0-3-1] is back into the attack
16.6 -
Babar to Misbah, SIX, glorious hit! Misbah joins the party. He jumps out of the crease to get to the pitch of the ball and then he lofts it handsomely over the long-on fence for a maximum
16.5 -
Babar to Misbah, no run, Misbah walks out of the crease and Babar beats him in the flight, Misbah somehow manages to get his pad in the way and pushes it into the on-side
16.4 -
Babar to A Russell, 1 run, a bit of spin away around off, Russell comes forward to push, the ball takes the outside edge and rolls away in front of short third man for a run
16.3 -
Babar to Misbah, 1 run, Misbah backs away and Babar darts it towards him, Misbah was looking to turn it through the on-side, gets a soft leading edge that rolls away in front of cover, the batsmen cross over
16.2 -
Babar to A Russell, 1 run, very full just outside off, Russell drills it wide of long-off, straight to the fielder and the batsmen can only take a single
16.1 -
Babar to A Russell, no run, turning away slightly on off and middle, Russell was slightly opened up in his defence but manages to keep it out into the off-side
Zulfiqar Babar [3.0-0-27-1] is back into the attack
77/6 right now. How many can Islamabad United manage in the final four overs? Surely, they would at least want to go past 120. Let's find out if Russell and Misbah can power them through
15.6 -
Nabi to Misbah, 2 runs, on middle stump line, Misbah works it through mid-wicket and comes back for the second with ease
15.5 -
Nabi to A Russell, 1 run, drags this slightly short around off, Russell flat-bats the pull straight to long-on
15.4 -
Nabi to A Russell, no run, pushed through quicker just outside off, Russell defends it to the right of extra cover
15.4 -
Nabi to A Russell, wide, quicker delivery down the leg-side, Russell can't pull it fine and the umpire signals a wide
15.3 -
Nabi to A Russell, SIX, that's outta here! Floated up around off, Russell kneels down, gets right under it and hammers the slog sweep over the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum
15.2 -
Nabi to A Russell, no run, quicker delivery on off and middle, Russell is hurried into the defensive push
15.1 -
Nabi to Misbah, 3 runs, poor ball, drifting down the leg-side, Misbah tickles it fine, gets it to the right of short fine leg, who gives chase and pulls the ball back in time to save a run for his side
14.6 -
Mohammad Nawaz to A Russell, no run, comes down the track and ends up yorking himself, squeezes it out straight to backward point. Nawaz completes a brilliant spell. His figures: 4-0-13-4
14.5 -
Mohammad Nawaz to A Russell, no run, floated up outside off, Russell drills it straight to cover
14.4 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, on middle and leg stump line, Misbah works it through square leg for a run
14.3 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, no run, Misbah once again goes for the reverse sweep, doesn't nail it and luckily for him, the ball drops just short of the diving backward point, it was inches away from him
Andre Russell, right handed bat, comes to the crease
14.2 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Imran Khalid, out Caught by Nabi!! This time Khalid has to go. Nawaz is one fire today, picks his fourth of the night. Khalid kneels down to play the big sweep off this flighted delivery, ends up hitting it in the air but doesn't get the desired distance. Nabi bends low and takes a simple catch at deep backward square leg. Out comes Andre Russell. Imran Khalid c Nabi b Mohammad Nawaz 4(6)
Mohammad Nawaz to Imran Khalid, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
14.1 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, Misbah backs away and Nawaz darts right at the batsman, he opens the face of the blade and steers it square of the wicket for a single
13.6 -
Nabi to Imran Khalid, no run, goes for the reverse sweep this time but hits it straight to the fielder at backward point
13.5 -
Nabi to Imran Khalid, 2 runs, drags this short outside off, Khalid cracks it through the gap past backward point and returns for the second
13.4 -
Nabi to Imran Khalid, no run, once again he kneels across to sweep, misses this slowish delivery and wears it high on the thigh pad, the ball rolls away towards the slip fielder
13.3 -
Nabi to Imran Khalid, no run, kneels down to sweep this, ekes out a top-edge and the ball crashes right into his helmet, can't get the single away
13.2 -
Nabi to Imran Khalid, 2 runs, dropped! Another let down on the field. Khalid comes down the track and miscues his inside out loft, sweeper cover runs forward, gets both hands to it but it pops out, he tries to catch it on the second attempt but can't do so that time around as well
Surprising to see no Andre Russell till now. Maybe they are keeping him for later.
13.1 -
Nabi to Misbah, 1 run, flatter delivery just outside off, Misbah goes deep in the crease and punches it down to long-on
Mohammad Nabi [2.0-0-2-0] is back into the attack
12.6 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, run-out chance missed! Misbah bunts this to the left of the bowler, Khalid was halfway down the track in search of a single, the bowler quickly gets across, picks the ball and fires a throw at the non-striker's end. He misses and then the batsmen take an extra run on the overthrow. A direct-hit and Khalid would have been a goner
Imran Khalid, left handed bat, comes to the crease
12.5 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, out Caught by Nabi!! Another one bites the dust. Half the side is back in the hut now and Islamabad United slip further. Comes down the track and goes for the big heave, swings across the line a little too early though and ends up getting a leading edge that balloons in the air, short third man moves across to his right and takes the simplest of catches. Babar Azam c Nabi b Mohammad Nawaz 15(18) [4s-1]
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
12.4 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, no run, advances and Azam shortens his length a bit, Azam defends it back down the pitch
12.3 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, tossed up just outside off, Misbah gives himself some room and lofts it on the bounce to long-off, just a single
12.2 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run, slightly quicker and on middle stump line, Azam wrists it through mid-wicket for a single
12.1 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, darted around off, Misbah once again tries to play the reverse sweep, drags it onto the thigh pad off the glove, the batsmen take a quick run as the ball dribbles in front of backward point. There was an appeal for lbw, but no umpire will ever give that out
Mohammad Nawaz [2.0-0-7-2] is back into the attack
11.6 -
Babar to Babar Azam, FOUR, floated up just outside off, Azam lifts it inside-out through the cover region, the fielder at long-off runs to his left, puts in the dive, gets a hand on it but can't prevent the ball from trickling away to the fence
11.5 -
Babar to Babar Azam, 2 runs, quicker on the stumps, Azam stays deep and turns it through mid-wicket for a brace
11.4 -
Babar to Misbah, 1 run, changed his stance and goes for the big reverse sweep, ends up getting a top-edge as the slowness of the ball fools him. Luckily for him, it lands in no man's land around the short third man region
11.3 -
Babar to Misbah, 2 runs, kneels right across and sweeps this fine behind square on the leg-side, comes back for the second with ease
11.2 -
Babar to Misbah, FOUR, comes down the track and lofts this flighted delivery through the line, sends it to the right of long-off, who runs across to his right but he had no chance of stopping it, bounces once before hitting the fence
11.1 -
Babar to Misbah, no run, slower through the air and just outside off, Misbah presses forward to defend
Zulfiqar Babar [2.0-0-14-1] is back into the attack
10.6 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Misbah, 1 run, flatter delivery on the stumps, Misbah hangs back and punches it through mid-wicket, keeps the strike a run
10.5 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Misbah, no run, loud appeal from Sarfraz for a caught behind, but the umpire is not interested. Bowled slightly wide outside off, Misbah tries the reverse sweep but can't connect
10.4 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Misbah, no run, tossed up outside off, Misbah makes room and drives it straight to cover
10.3 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Babar Azam, 1 run, backs away and pulls this shortish delivery to the left of deep mid-wicket, the fielder does really well to cut it off after running to his left, keeps the batsmen down to a run
10.2 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Misbah, 1 run, floated up outside off, Misbah looks to drive it off the front foot, gets an inside edge through backward square leg
10.1 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Babar Azam, 1 run, comes down the track and converts it into a full toss, hacks it down to long-on but can't get the boundary as the fielder at long-on moves across to his left and cuts it off
9.6 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run, Babar Azam drills this one to long-off
9.5 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, pushed through from Mohammad Nawaz, Misbah drives it to deep extra cover. The fielder at mid-off misfield there and that facilitated the single
9.4 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, no run, quicker delivery and on the stumps, Misbah pushes it back towards the bowler
9.3 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run, Azam clips this delivery to mid-wicket
9.2 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Misbah, 1 run, Misbah pats it to cover and pinches a single. In fact, the fielder at cover dived forward and under-armed the throw to the striker's end, hits the stumps directly but the batsman was well in
Misbah-ul-Haq, right handed bat, comes to the crease
9.1 -
Mohammad Nawaz to S Billings, out Bowled!! What on earth was Billings doing there? The procession continues for Islamabad. He attempted to bring in the reverse sweep by premeditating to a flatter delivery. He missed it completely. The ball went on to crash into his middle and leg-stump. S Billings b Mohammad Nawaz 2(4)
Mohammad Nawaz to S Billings, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
8.6 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to S Billings, 1 run, this time, Billings beats the fielder at mid-wicket by venturing out of the crease and using the flick
8.5 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to S Billings, no run, pushed through and on the stumps, Billings tucks it to mid-wicket. He used his feet there
8.4 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Babar Azam, 1 run, tossed up delivery from Akbar-ur-Rehman, Azam dances down the track and lifts it over the bowler's head. The fielder at long-off runs to his right, but fumbles. The pair though, don't take the extra run. Poor running between the wickets there
8.3 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to S Billings, 1 run, Billings uses the paddle to fine leg and picks up an easy single
8.2 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Babar Azam, 1 run, dragged down delivery, Azam pulls it to deep mid-wicket
8.1 -
Akbar-ur-Rehman to Babar Azam, no run, Azam drives this quicker delivery to mid-off
Akbar-ur-Rehman, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Sam Billings, right handed bat, comes to the crease
7.6 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Watson, out Bowled!! Watson looked out of sorts against the spinners and he has paid the price by losing his wicket. Watson looked to pull a delivery that was shorter in length. However, he failed to connect and could only hear the death rattle. His leg-stump took a beating. He was too early into his shot. Watson b Mohammad Nawaz 15(27) [4s-1]
Mohammad Nawaz to Watson, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
7.5 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Watson, no run, this flatter delivery turns away from the right-hander, Watson again looks to cut and is beaten
7.4 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Watson, 2 runs, Watson takes a step or two out of the crease, Nawaz follows him with a flatter delivery. Watson slog sweeps it to deep square leg. The fielder in the deep runs around the circumference, but the pair collect a couple of runs
7.3 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Watson, no run, a wee bit shorter in length, Watson cracks the cut to cover-point, but can't pierce the gap
7.2 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run, Nawaz waltzes down the track, takes it on the full and drives it to long-off
7.1 -
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, no run, from wide of the crease, Nawaz drags it down and bowls it just outside off, Azam cuts it to backward point
Mohammad Nawaz, comes into the attack
6.6 -
Umar Gul to Babar Azam, 1 run, shortish delivery from Umar Gul, Azam pulls it to deep mid-wicket
6.5 -
Umar Gul to Babar Azam, no run, good length delivery and zooming in on the stumps, Azam ekes out an inside edge on his drive to mid-on
6.4 -
Umar Gul to Babar Azam, no run, good length delivery and outside off, Azam dabs it to backward point
6.3 -
Umar Gul to Babar Azam, no run, the yorker that is bowled on the stumps, Azam just about squeezes it out
Babar Azam, right handed bat, comes to the crease
6.2 -
Umar Gul to U Amin, out Caught by L Wright!! Wright has taken a sharp catch at backward point. The Quetta Gladiators camp is excited. It was short and asking to be hit. Amin stays on the back foot and cracks the cut to Wright at backward point, who moved forward and took a catch just an inch or two above the turf. U Amin c L Wright b Umar Gul 0(4)
Umar Gul to U Amin, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
6.2 -
Umar Gul to U Amin, wide, short delivery from Umar Gul, Amin sits under it easily. It is called as a wide
6.1 -
Umar Gul to Watson, 1 run, fullish and on the stumps, Watson guides it to third man
Umar Gul, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
5.6 -
Nabi to U Amin, no run, slower through the air, Amin prods forward and defends it solidly in front of square on the off-side
5.5 -
Nabi to U Amin, no run, quicker from Nabi, Amin stays back and presents the full face of the willow
5.4 -
Nabi to U Amin, no run, slightly shorter in length, Amin punches it to backward point
5.3 -
Nabi to Watson, 1 run, again Watson comes out of the crease and flicks this delivery that is bowled slower through the air to long-on
5.2 -
Nabi to Watson, no run, Watson takes a step or two out of the crease and drives it towards cover
5.1 -
Nabi to Watson, no run, flatter delivery and on the stumps, Watson tucks it to mid-wicket
Umar Amin, left handed bat, comes to the crease
4.6 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, out Caught by Nabi!! Babar has made the first incision for the Gladiators. Again slightly shorter in length, Sharjeel kneels on one knee and sweeps it straight to Nabi at backward square leg, who takes a relatively easy catch with both hands this time around. Sharjeel Khan c Nabi b Babar 10(11) [6s-1]
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
4.5 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, 2 runs, shorter in length, Sharjeel pulls it to long-on and picks up a brace
4.4 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, SIX, Sharjeel waltzes down the track, gets close to the pitch of the ball and lifts it over deep mid-wicket. It sails into the stands easily
4.3 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, no run, this one gets struck in the pitch, Sharjeel goes back and tries to heave it across the line and fails to connect
4.2 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, no run, slower through the air, Sharjeel slogs it towards mid-wicket, but can't bisect the gap
4.1 -
Babar to Watson, 1 run, the arm-ball from Babar, Watson gets caught in the crease and gets an inside edge to backward square leg
Zulfiqar Babar [1.0-0-5-0] is back into the attack
3.6 -
Nabi to Sharjeel Khan, tossed up delivery and turn for Nabi, Sharjeel ekes out an outside edge towards first slip
3.5 -
Nabi to Sharjeel Khan, no run, a hint of turn for Nabi, Sharjeel covers for it and dabs it to cover
3.4 -
Nabi to Sharjeel Khan, no run, flatter delivery and just outside off, Sharjeel pats it towards first slip
3.3 -
Nabi to Watson, 1 run, Watson uses his feet, but Nabi pushes it through a bit. Watson, in the end, cuts it off the outside half of the bat to short third man
3.2 -
Nabi to Watson, no run, pushed through and on the stumps, Watson clips it to mid-wicket
3.1 -
Nabi to Watson, no run, flatter delivery and on the stumps, Watson turns it away to short mid-on
Mohammad Nabi, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
2.6 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, 1 run, fullish and on off-stump, Watson drives it to mid-off. Pietersen swoops down on the ball quickly and fires in the throw at the non-striker's end, but misses. Anyway, the batsman was in. KP is positioned too deep at mid-off
2.5 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, the off-pace ball from Anwar Ali, Watson cracks the cut to cover, but again can't bisect the gap
2.4 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, fuller length delivery and sliding down leg, Watson misses out with the tuck
2.3 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, width on offer, Watson punches it to cover
2.2 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, FOUR, shorter in length, Watson is very good at playing the pull shot. He brings out the pull stroke to this delivery and the ball runs away to the mid-wicket fence in a jiffy. The first boundary of the PSL
2.1 -
Anwar Ali to Sharjeel Khan, 1 run, too straight from Anwar Ali, Sharjeel tucks it to mid-wicket. The bowler himself runs across and does the fielding
1.6 -
Babar to Watson, 2 runs, Watson ventures out of the crease, Babar follows him with a flatter delivery. Watson drives it square on the off-side. He did not time it that well, but collects a brace
1.5 -
Babar to Watson, no run, another one that turns sharply away from the right-hander, Watson is opened up in his defence. The ball whizzes past the outside edge
1.4 -
Babar to Watson, no run, sharp turn for Babar, Watson tries to drive and is beaten on the outside edge. He was at sixes and sevens there
1.3 -
Babar to Watson, 2 runs, Watson clips this delivery that is bowled on the stumps to deep mid-wicket for a brace
1.2 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, 1 run, drop catch! Sharjeel brings out the sweep shot to a tossed up delivery. It goes towards Nabi, who was fielding at backward square leg. He puts in the dive to his left, but can't hold onto it, despite getting both hands to it
1.1 -
Babar to Sharjeel Khan, no run, from round the wicket Babar tosses it up, Sharjeel tries to flick and misses. There was a loud appeal for an lbw but the angle might have taken it past the off stump and that's why the umpire turns it down. The ball dribbles away towards slip
Zulfiqar Babar, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
0.6 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, a touch of width on offer, Watson flays the cut to cover but can't breach the gap. Maiden over to start with for Anwar Ali
0.5 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, Anwar Ali zooms it on the stumps, Watson ekes out an inside edge onto his front pad. He looks to steal a single, but is sent back. Anwar Ali runs across and uses his boot to kick the ball onto the stumps, but the batsman was in
0.4 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, back of a length delivery and on off-stump, Watson pats it towards backward point, but cannot pinch a single
0.3 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, another short and wide ball, Watson flays the cut towards the cover-region, but can't pierce the gap
0.2 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, brilliant fielding from Ahmed Shehzad. Short and wide delivery, Watson smears the cut to Shehzad at cover, who puts in a full length dive to save a certain boundary
0.1 -
Anwar Ali to Watson, no run, good length delivery that nips back in a touch, Watson prods forward and tries to defend. He ekes out an inside edge to mid-wicket
Watson and Sharjeel Khan are at the crease. Watson is on strike. Anwar Ali will open the attack
That's it then from this game! Tomorrow, the extravaganza continues as there is a double-header coming your way. In the first game, Karachi Kings will be up against Lahore Qalandars. That contest will be followed by Peshawar Zalmi taking on Islamabad United. Don't forget to join us then. Goodbye for now.
Sarfraz: I knew that dew factor would come into play and that's why winning the toss was really important. The credit goes to the bowlers, who bowled magnificently. Luke Wright was brilliant, he took them out of the game from the word go. Vivian Richards's inputs are valuable for us, we are having a great time with him. There are so many senior players, Pietersen was helping me out a lot today.
Misbah: I think we started poorly with both the bat and the ball. We were nowhere after the first 6 overs, we kept losing wickets and never had any momentum with us. The start with the ball was very poor as well. We are professionals, we have to be switched on from ball one. Most of the guys have played T20 cricket before. You can't just give excuses, we didn't apply ourselves and they did it way better than us. If the pitches are like this, we will need spinners as the ball was gripping a lot today. We definitely need to add another spinner.
Nawaz: I am very happy. Such a big game and such a big occasion, it was great to come up trumps against some of the big international names. The pitch was helpful for the spinners and I utilized that really well.
Mohammad Nawaz is the Man of the Match
Luke Wright: Very delighted to win the game. The bowlers were outstanding, gave us a very small target to chase. We knew if we started well, it will be easy to chase it down. Did exactly that. Our spinners bowled beautifully. We were always ahead of the game, we never had to take risks against the spinners. It's an honor to come here and play. Nice for the Quetta fans to see us win. This tournament should be a huge success. Still a long way to go, we need to build on this victory.
Islamabad would rue the fact that their top-order just couldn't fire. If not for Russell and Misbah-ul-Haq's lusty blows, they could have been bowled out for a score of under 100. In fact, it was perplexing to see Russell being sent in to bat at No. 8. On the other hand, Mohammad Nawaz was the chief wicket-taker for Islamabad, with four wickets to his name.
Luke Wright explored every nook and corner of the ground by clobbering the opposition ranks as Quetta made light work of chasing down a modest total. The pace duo of Andre Russell and Mohammad Irfan tested the middle of the pitch and Wright took a heavy toll of it by cracking a flurry of boundaries. Despite losing a couple of wickets, Quetta coasted towards the target.
15.6 -
A Russell to L Wright, FOUR, Quetta Gladiators win by 8 wickets! A breezy victory for Sarfraz Ahmed's men. Drifting onto the pads this time, Wright tucks it away through backward square leg and it races away to the fence
15.5 -
A Russell to L Wright, no run, in the blockhole on off, Wright jams it out back to the bowler
15.4 -
A Russell to L Wright, no run, bumper at the batsman, who ducks under it
15.3 -
A Russell to L Wright, SIX, what a strike! 50-run stand also comes up! Picks the slower short ball early, stays deep in the crease and hammers the ball over the deep mid-wicket fence, scores are level now
15.2 -
A Russell to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, angling away outside off, Nawaz waits for the ball to arrive and runs it down to third man for a single
15.1 -
A Russell to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, slower shortish delivery outside off, Nawaz cracks it through backward point for a couple of runs
Andre Russell [1.0-0-18-0] is back into the attack
14.6 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, stays deep in the crease and steers it to the right of backward point off the outside half of the blade, keeps the strike with a run
14.5 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, short delivery outside off, Nawaz slaps it off the back foot, just about clears a leaping extra cover, the batsmen take two before long-off gets around
14.4 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, comes down the track and yorks himself, squeezes it out onto his pad and the ball rolls away wide of the man at slip, can't get the single away
14.3 -
Badree to L Wright, 1 run, comes down the track and Badree fires it on the pads of the batsman, Wright clips it through backward square leg for a single
14.2 -
Badree to L Wright, no run, flatter on the stumps, Wright punches it to short cover
14.1 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, drags this short well outside off, Nawaz cracks it to deep backward point for a run
13.6 -
Watson to L Wright, no run, on middle and leg stump line, Wright tries to slog it out of the park but this time he can't connect, wears it high on the thigh pad and the ball rolls away into the off-side. No real appeal for lbw as it was too high and was angling down leg as well
13.5 -
Watson to L Wright, FOUR, full toss and Wright won't miss out on a freebie, he heaves it over mid-wicket and it races away to the fence in a jiffy
13.4 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, goes for a big mow as he swings hard at this fullish delivery on off, drags it to fine leg off the inside edge, another run added to the total
13.3 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, pitched up around off, Nawaz drills it straight back to the bowler
13.2 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, short delivery that climbs onto the batsman, who was hurried into the pull, didn't time it too well but gets it over mid-wicket, easy couple of runs
13.2 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, wide, slower short ball down the leg-side, Nawaz goes for the flamingo pull (lifts one leg while trying to play that), can't connect and the umpire signals a wide
13.1 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, short and angling away slightly wide outside off, Nawaz slashes hard but only connects with thin air, the keeper collects
12.6 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, the googly on middle and off, Nawaz goes deep in the crease and turns it to the left of mid-wicket for a run
12.5 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, tossed up outside off, Nawaz gently drives it straight to short cover
12.4 -
Badree to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, almost in the blockhole outside off, Nawaz squeezes it out to short cover
12.3 -
Badree to L Wright, 1 run, this time he kneels down to play the slog sweep, doesn't time it all that well and it rolls away along the carpet to deep mid-wicket
12.2 -
Badree to L Wright, FOUR, slightly short outside off, Wright latches onto it in a flash, he pulls it hard and gets it to the left of long-on, who had no chance of stopping that
12.1 -
Badree to L Wright, no run, darted on middle stump line, Wright pushes it on the bounce to the bowler
Samuel Badree [1.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack
11.6 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, just short of a good length and in the channel outside off, Nawaz opens the face of the blade and steers it past backward point, good running ensures that the batsmen come back for the second
11.5 -
Watson to L Wright, 1 run, banged in short and outside off, Wright smashes the pull, hit it right off the screws but it goes straight to the fielder at deep mid-wicket, only a single available
11.4 -
Watson to L Wright, no run, pitched up outside off, Wright drives it uppishly past Watson, who dives across to his left but can't get a hand on it, the ball trickles away towards mid-off. It was the slower one from Watto and Wright was a little too early into his shot
11.3 -
Watson to L Wright, no run, full toss angled in on leg stump line, Wright manages to get some wood before the ball crashes into the pad, the batsmen don't risk a single
11.2 -
Watson to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, just short of a good length and around off, Nawaz stays deep in the crease and pushes it in front of cover, gets to the other end with a quick single
11.1 -
Watson to L Wright, 1 run, angling into the pads, Wright works it through mid-wicket for a run
Shane Watson, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
10.6 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, 1 run, pushed through on middle and leg, Wright clips it away through square leg for a single
10.5 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, no run, defends this flatter delivery into the off-side off the front foot
10.4 -
Imran Khalid to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, another dart on the stumps, Nawaz pushes it in front of mid-on and this time he takes the single
10.3 -
Imran Khalid to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, shortish and fired in on the stumps, Nawaz bunts it straight to mid-on
10.2 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, 1 run, quicker on the stumps, Wright defends it off the inside half of the blade, the batsmen cross over as the ball dribbles away through mid-wicket
10.1 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, SIX, full toss outside off, Wright kneels down and nails the slog sweep over the wide long-on fence, there was a fielder in the deep but he can only see it sail over his head
9.6 -
Irfan to Mohammad Nawaz, FOUR, again in the slot and asking to be clobbered. Nawaz does just that by butchering it to the mid-wicket boundary
9.5 -
Irfan to L Wright, 1 run, back of a length delivery and outside off, Wright dabs it to third man
9.4 -
Irfan to L Wright, FOUR, Wright has got the measure of Irfan. From round the wicket, Irfan bowls a half volley, Wright plants his front foot and slaps it to the deep extra cover boundary. It was a powerful blow from Wright
9.3 -
Irfan to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, a touch of width on offer, patted down to third man
9.2 -
Irfan to L Wright, 1 run, short delivery from Irfan, Wright hooks it to fine leg
9.1 -
Irfan to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, back of a length delivery that is angled in, Nawaz clips it to backward square leg
Mohammad Irfan [2.0-0-21-0] is back into the attack
8.6 -
Imran Khalid to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, Nawaz camps on the back foot and pushes it to long-on
8.5 -
Imran Khalid to Mohammad Nawaz, no run, Nawaz pats this delivery that is bowled slower through the air into the off-side, but can't nab a single
Mohammad Nawaz, left handed bat, comes to the crease
8.4 -
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, out Lbw!! For the umpteenth time in his career, Pietersen loses his wicket to a slow left-arm orthodox. He prodded forward and played for the turn. In fact, it turned out to be an arm-ball. He could not keep it out. On expected lines, Khalid belted out an appeal for LBW. The umpire raised his finger quickly. Replays showed that it was hitting the top of middle-stump. Pietersen lbw b Imran Khalid 8(12)
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!
8.3 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, 1 run, shorter in length, Wright reaches his fifty with a cut to sweeper cover. He has played with flair today
8.2 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, no run, slower through the air, defended off the front foot
8.1 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, FOUR, dragged down delivery. On this slow wicket, Wright pulls it to the mid-wicket fence. It crashes into the boundary boards
7.6 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, no run, Pietersen pushes this one back towards the bowler
7.5 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, 1 run, too straight from Raees, Wright works it away to deep square leg
7.4 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, 1 run, Raees is lucky that Pietersen has not made the most out of some poor deliveries that have been bowled on his pads. Even when he played for Notts in 2000, his strength was using the flick shot. Pietersen clips this full toss to deep square leg
7.3 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, no run, low full toss from Raees, Pietersen misses out with his clip
7.2 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, 2 runs, sprayed down leg, Pietersen shuffles across the sticks and tucks it away to fine leg for a couple of runs
7.2 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, wide, Pietersen takes a step out of the crease, Raees uses the slower short delivery. Pietersen sits under it. It is adjudged as a wide
7.1 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, leg byes, 1 run, the slower one from Raees, Wright looks to clip it to mid-wicket and misses. There is another stifled appeal for LBW, but it was drifting down leg. The ball rolls across towards cover
6.6 -
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, no run, a hint of turn for Khalid, but the track is slow. Pietersen covers for the turn and defends
6.5 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, 1 run, too straight from Khalid, Wright turns it away to backward square leg
6.4 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, no run, pushed through from Khalid, Wright drives it all the ground to short cover
6.3 -
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, 1 run, slower through the air from Khalid, Pietersen lifts it to long-off
6.2 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, 1 run, Wright makes room and then drills this delivery to long-off
6.1 -
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, 1 run, too straight from Khalid, Pietersen clips it to mid-wicket after shuffling across
5.6 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, 1 run, length delivery and on off-stump, Pietersen shuffles across and works it to long-on
5.5 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, leg byes, 1 run, the off-pace delivery from Raees, Wright tries to nurdle it to fine leg and fails to connect. It hits his thigh pad and they sneak in a leg-bye
5.4 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, no run, low full toss from Raees, Wright yet again does not connect with his tuck. There is a muted appeal for LBW, but it was drifting down leg. The ball dribbles across into the off-side
5.3 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, no run, Raees again loses his radar by bowling it down the leg-side, Wright looks to nurdle it around the corner and misses
5.3 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, wide, straying down leg, Wright aims to clip it to fine leg and fails to connect. It is signalled as a wide
5.2 -
Rumman Raees to L Wright, no run, back of a length delivery and on off-stump, Wright is opened up slightly in his defence, but he is able to guard it out
5.1 -
Rumman Raees to Pietersen, 1 run, speared down leg, Pietersen stylishly flicks it to deep backward square leg. Now, Pietersen won't be happy with the fact that he did not collect a boundary there
Rumman Raees, left-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
4.6 -
Imran Khalid to L Wright, no run, Khalid targets the stumps, Wright prods forward and defends it solidly
4.5 -
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, 1 run, too straight from Khalid, Pietersen turns it away to deep backward square leg
4.4 -
Imran Khalid to Pietersen, no run, the arm-ball from Khalid, Pietersen plants his front foot and defends
Kevin Pietersen, right handed bat, comes to the crease
4.3 -
Imran Khalid to Ahmed Shehzad, out Caught&Bowled!! Eventually, Islamabad have something to cheer about. Shehzad tries to turn this delivery that is bowled slower through the air and ekes out a leading edge. Simple caught and bowled chance for Imran to take and he snaffles it with both hands. Ahmed Shehzad c and b Imran Khalid 11(9) [4s-2]
Imran Khalid to Ahmed Shehzad, THAT'S OUT!! Caught&Bowled!!
4.2 -
Imran Khalid to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, Shehzad makes room and cuts it to backward point
4.1 -
Imran Khalid to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, a hint of turn for Imran Khalid, Shehzad is opened up in his defence. He though, is able to keep it out
Imran Khalid, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
3.6 -
A Russell to L Wright, no run, Wright shuffles across and flicks this delivery in front of square on the off-side
3.5 -
A Russell to L Wright, FOUR, now a full toss from Russell, Wright flicks it with ease to the mid-wicket fence. The stand is already worth 53 runs in just 3.5 overs. They are romping home to victory
3.4 -
A Russell to L Wright, FOUR, this is mediocre stuff from Islamabad. Short and wide ball from Russell, Wright flays the cut square on the off-side. It runs away to the boundary boards
3.3 -
A Russell to L Wright, 2 runs, too straight from Russell, Wright clips it through mid-wicket and nabs a brace
3.2 -
A Russell to L Wright, FOUR, short and wide delivery and asking to be hammered. Wright cracks the cut and the fielder at cover-point misfields. In fact, it went right through his legs and that results in a boundary
3.1 -
A Russell to L Wright, FOUR, the short ball tactic is not working. Russell attempts the short delivery, but it sits up nicely for Wright to use the pull shot. It came right off the screws and it races away to the mid-wicket boundary
Andre Russell, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
Russell steams into the crease, but loses his run-up
2.6 -
Irfan to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, Irfan keeps it in the channel outside off, left alone
2.5 -
Irfan to Ahmed Shehzad, 2 runs, Irfan uses the short delivery and bowls it outside off, Shehzad pulls it with a dash of bravado. The fielder at deep backward square leg runs across to his right and keeps the pair to two runs
2.4 -
Irfan to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, back of a length delivery from Irfan, Shehzad dabs it to covers
2.3 -
Irfan to L Wright, 1 run, from round the wicket, Irfan hits it on a length, Wright pats it to third man
2.2 -
Irfan to L Wright, SIX, it is raining fours and sixes from Wright's bat. Fuller delivery and on the stumps, Wright buries it by playing across the line and he deposits it over the deep mid-wicket fence
2.1 -
Irfan to L Wright, SIX, crackerjack shot from Wright. Short delivery and Irfan gets good shoulder on it too. He also bowled it outside off, Wright middles the hook and he clears the backward square leg fence with ease
1.6 -
Badree to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR, pushed through and on off-stump, Shehzad waltzes down the track and drives it all along the carpet square on the off-side for a boundary
1.5 -
Badree to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR, flatter delivery from Badree, Shehzad tries to sweep and gets an inside edge on it. Irfan, the tall man at short fine leg, misfields and that results in a boundary. Good start for Quetta
1.4 -
Badree to L Wright, 1 run, plenty of width on offer, Wright does not time the cut shot well, but nabs a single to backward point
1.3 -
Badree to L Wright, FOUR, dragged down delivery, Wright cuts it from the off-stump past the diving backward point fielder. No need to run for those
1.2 -
Badree to L Wright, no run, slower through the air, Wright drives it to cover
1.1 -
Badree to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run, quicker one from Badree, Shehzad cuts it to backward point, but can't pierce the gap
Samuel Badree, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
0.6 -
Irfan to L Wright, FOUR, short and wide delivery and asking to be thwacked. Wright stays on the back foot and cuts it hard past the backward point fielder. It crashes into the ad-cushions in a hurry
0.5 -
Irfan to L Wright, no run, Wright tries to flick this length delivery and misses. It hits his thigh pad and dribbles away to the lone slip fielder. The batsman was cut into half there
0.4 -
Irfan to L Wright, 2 runs, too straight from Irfan, Wright works it to fine leg and good running between the wickets helps Wright to add two runs to the bag
0.3 -
Irfan to L Wright, no run, short and wide delivery, Wright tries to cut and misses. Extra bounce for Irfan
0.2 -
Irfan to L Wright, no run, short delivery from Irfan, Wright pulls it to Badree at square leg, who dives to his right and makes a sharp save. It just bounced in front of him and he did really well to stop it
0.1 -
Irfan to L Wright, no run, fuller length delivery and on off-stump, Wright drives it on the up to mid-off
L Wright and Ahmed Shehzad are at the crease. L Wright is on strike. Irfan will open the attack