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Cricket Pakistan Super League 2024

PSL 2024: Quetta Gladiators stay unbeaten after close win over Islamabad United by 3 wickets

Rilee Rossouw and his Quetta side stay unbeaten after a close three-wicket win over the Islamabad United side during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 game on Thursday

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PSL 2024 (Source-Twitter)

It was a great day for cricket fans in Lahore as Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators played a thrilling encounter. In the end, it was Quetta who won the game by 3 wickets to stay unbeaten in the ongoing PSL 2024 season. 

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Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United met during an exciting contest for PSL 2024 on Thursday. Shadab Khan and his Islamabad Side came into the contest on the back of a loss in their last game. Quetta Gladiators meanwhile had started the tournament with two successive wins. 

It was Quetta who won the toss and chose to bowl first. Islamabad United made two changes as Hunain Shah and Ruman Raees came in for Ubaid Shah and Tymal Mills. Rilee Rossouw decided to go in with the same team for the Gladiators. 

Key Moments – 
-    Alex Hales falls after providing a good start
-    Islamabad United lose quick wickets
-    Abrar Ahmed's double strike rattles Islamabad 
-    Islamabad United crawled to 138 from their 20 overs. 
-    Shah Brothers' moment 
-    Jason Roy gives Quetta a good start
-    Hunain Shah gets Jason Roy
-    Rossouw and Rutherford steady the ship
-    Islamabad bowlers make a strong comeback 

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Alex Hales falls after electric start – 

It was Alex Hales and Colin Munro who opened the innings for the Islamabad United side. Alex Hales in particular was severe on the bowlers as he went hammer and tongs. 21 runs off just 9 balls was the score Hales scored before falling to Akeal Hossein. 

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Islamabad United lose wickets in cluster – 

Once Alex Hales fell the wheels seemed to come off for Islamabad United. Colin Munro seemed to be struggling with his timing as he was out for 20. The veteran Kiwi batter faced 22 balls before falling to Abrar Ahmed. 

Skipper Shadab Khan was out for 2 when he was caught by Roy off Hasnain. Azam Khan soon fell for 1 this time to Hossein caught by Rossouw. At this stage, Quetta was 80/4 in the 10th over. 

Abrar Ahmed's double strike leaves Islamabad reeling – 

Agha Salman top-scored for Islamabad United with 33 runs from 23 balls. Abrar Ahmed then landed two massive blows to derail the opposition’s charge. First Agha Salman was out caught by Khawaja Nafay. Then it was Imad Wasim who was caught well down the leg side by Sarfaraz Ahmed. 

Islamabad United crawls to 138 runs from their 20 overs – 

Jordan Cox who batted well in the last game couldn’t find his timing with the bat. The 23-year-old was out for 19 off 21 balls to Mohammed Wasim Jr. Faheem Ashraf scored 20 off 14 balls but that wasn’t enough for the home team. With 138 runs on the board the United side knew they were at least 35-40 runs short on a good pitch. 

Emotional debut for Hunain Shah – 

Young pacer Hunain Shah made his debut for Quetta in place of Ubaid Shah. It was an emotional day for the youngster as he got his cap from his older brother Naseem Shah. It is to be noted that Naseem is the eldest, followed by Hunain and Ubaid the youngster. The young Ubaid Shah was part of the Pakistan team during the recent Under-19 World Cup. 

Jason Roy gives Quetta a blazing start – 

Naseem Shah seemed fired up as he came into bowl but Jason Roy proved to be more than ready. The English batter went after the Quetta pace bowling ace and smashed him all across the park. 


Earlier in the third over, Naseem Shah had got the big wicket of Saud Shakeel. The left-handed batter was one of the star performers with the bat against Lahore Qalandars. On Thursday, Naseem got the ball to tail in as the batter was out LBW for 2. 

Hunain Shah gets off to a dream start – 

Ruman Raees got the 2nd wicket when he had Khwaja Nafay bowled for 9. Jason Roy though wasn’t flustered as he continued on his merry ways. Hunain Shah making his debut got into the thick of things right away. The 20-year-old got the wicket of Jason Roy when the right-handed batter got a huge inside edge onto his stumps. Shadab Khan then got the big wicket of Sarfaraz Ahmed out LBW for 1. 

Rilee Rossouw and Sherfane Rutherford steady the ship – 

At 54/4 it seemed like Shadab Khan and his side were ready to defend the relatively small target. Quetta skipper Rilee Rossouw and West Indian Sherfane Rutherford didn’t let that happen. The pair added 62 runs for the 5th wicket in 53 balls to bring Quetta closer to the target. 

Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah try to fight back – 

Sensing the match going out of his grasp Shadab Khan introduced Naseem Shah back into the attack. The move paid off well as Shah got through the defenses of Rutherford for 29. Akeal Hossein was run-out for 8 while Mohammed Wasim JR was bowled by Shadab Khan for just 1 run. 

Mohammad Amir holds his nerve and helps his side win the game – 

Needing just 11 runs from 17 balls and three wickets in hand, Mohammad Amir turned hero with the bat. The veteran former Pakistan pacer hit two fours to bring the equation down. With a single the match was won as Quetta kept their unbeaten start to the season. 

Final Analysis – 

Skipper Rilee Rossouw was given the player of the match award for his unbeaten 34. With this win, Quetta has 6 points from three games and are second in the table. Islamabad United are third in the table with 2 points from 3 games. On Friday, Multan Sultans will play Peshawar Zalmi in their 4th game of the season.  

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