Munro, Azam, Stirling lead United's drubbing of Gladiators

Shadab seals United’s 43-run victory with five-for as they move up to second

Islamabad United 229 for 4 (Munro 72, Azam 65, Stirling 58, Nawaz 2-32) beat Quetta Gladiators 186 (Ahsan 50, Shadab 5-28) by 43 runs

After United had raced along to 173 in 14 overs, Gladiators somehow found a way to rein them back in, thanks to some brilliant variations by Sohail Tanvir and Naseem Shah. Only 36 came off the next five overs, but with Sarfaraz’s side playing just five bowlers, they were just putting off the final Afridi over; he had already conceded 47 in three. Azam bludgeoned him for three more sixes before Afridi finally yorked him, but by then he’d gone for 67. It’s the most expensive anyone has ever been in the PSL, and the second-most expensive figures for a T20 spinner in any competition.

Gladiators had for some reason left the free-scoring Will Smeed out of the line-up, opting to play with just three overseas players, and pairing emerging cricketer Abdul Bangalzai with Ahsan Ali up top. The youngster struggled and fell early, and while Ahsan Ali clubbed eight fours and a six en route to a 26-ball fifty, Shadab snared him the very next ball. Despite Ahsan’s best efforts, his side were way behind the monstrous asking rate at that point, and the scoreboard pressure saw the United captain run riot. Ben Duckett was undone by a slider before Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Afridi all fell to the legspinner, leaving Gladiators reeling at 110 for 7.

Full report to follow…