Looking forward to your company tomorrow in the Eliminator 2. Until then, it's goodbye and good night from me, Rvel Zahid, and Thilak Rama. Take care!
Imad Wasim, Player of the Match: I think what we saw in the last few games, it was spinning, holding a bit, the thing I did well was to bowl really really slow, it was gripping and it went well. If we take early wickets we are in the gam...that was the plan, slow ball was the weapon not arm ball. I tried to bowl more slow balls than arm balls and mixed it up...worked for me...we restricted them and took wickets which is the best thing, if you do one of these right, you will win because powerplay is very important
Shadab Khan, Islamabad United Captain: We haven't played a perfect game yet. We'll try to do that in the final. When we saw the pitch, it looked like it will be slower in the second half that's why we wanted to bat first. After six overs in second innings, pitch was getting better and better. I think it's good as well because we have winning momentum and I hope it stays with us for the last couple of games (on facing Zalmi in less than 24 hours). We have to take wickets in middle overs as well because that makes scoring tough at death. That's a sign of good team that we made mistakes but still won, but we need to work on these areas
Rilee Rossouw, Quetta Gladiators Captain: Hopefully we can be better next time. It was an honor and privilege to lead this great side, lot of youngsters came in showed what they're capable off, definitely it's a step in the right direction and we need to build up. (spinners) they were phenomenal throughout the whole season, entire bowling put up their hands big time, leading the chart was M. Amir, on surface that don't really suit the fast bowlers, he did a phenomenal job, spin kings were fantastic. Thank you very much for your support (to the fans), unfortunately this is where it ends...first time in four years we have qualified for the playoffs, step in the right direction, we have come a long way, don't hang the boys on the rope...hopefully next year things could be a a lot different
Quetta Gladiators are knocked out and Islamabad United will have to engage in another tussle with Peshawar Zalmi tomorrow, as the winner of Eliminator 2 will meet Multan Sultans in the final. It's been a convincing win by Islamabad United, who made fewer mistakes and stayed ahead in the game. It could have been closer had Quetta avoided those two run-outs; the target wasn't such a daunting task but the big match pressure got to them. Islamabad United applied the squeeze early on. Imad Wasim showed his dexterity in no uncertain terms at the powerplay, returning 3/12, which changed the complexion of the game and made life easier for other bowlers. Naseem Shah was breathing fire in his first spell and returned 2/33, while Obed McCoy was impressive on his PSL debut. Not having Sherfane Rutherford in the side was a strange decision from Quetta and that baffling move cost them dearly today. Omair Yousuf made a gritty half-century and gave a glimmer of hope to Quetta. He stitched a valiant partnership with Akeal Hosein, who got run out just at the wrong time and losing wickets at regular intervals inhibited their progress. M.Amir raced to 23 off 14 after bowling an incredible spell on the big night; he was surely the standout performer for Quetta in this match as well as in this entire season
Abrar Ahmed b Hunain Shah 5 (11m 8b 1x4 0x6) SR: 62.50
Muzahid: "Dont know why Maddy would retire just when he made a comeback in the t20 side in that home NZ series."
END OF OVER:18 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | QG: 131/9 (44 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.27, RRR: 22.00)
- Abrar Ahmed1 (4b)
- Usman Tariq1 (1b)
- Naseem Shah4-0-33-2
- Obed McCoy3-0-13-1
aariz: "the thing I havent understood from quetta is the fact that even after seeing Laurie Evans fail so many times, they didn't bring in Bismillah Khan"
Omair Yousuf c Faheem Ashraf b Naseem Shah 50 (81m 37b 4x4 1x6) SR: 135.13
Hasaan: "For me personally, Amir with the bat brings back Champions trophy 2017 memories. Thar partnership with Sarfraz against Srilanka. Epic Nostalgia"
Mehmood Frij : "Can't help but feel for Hunain Shah. Good talent but doesn't get an over unless the batsmen is already set. Then people say he can't take wickets."
Brad: "How can you forget Amir's brisk fifty at Trent Bridge in that high scoring ODI against England? I can't, because I was there. "
Bilaluddin: "Everyone is talking about Rossouw's Captaincy and Sarfaraz's exclusion but nobody even thought to discuss Watson's coaching talent.......Wasn't he also be the one to be blamed for such performance???? Quetta losing 4 matches out of 3 matches were after winning the toss....this needs to be questioned from them"
Uzair Mir: "Shadab's bowling across formats remains a cause of concern. He was supposed to be Pakistan's lead spinner (like Saqlain and Ajmal) but he's now more of a slogger who can bowl a bit. Sometimes I wonder if Shadab did not have batting capacity would he make it to the eleven on basis of his bowling alone???"
END OF OVER:17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | QG: 126/8 (49 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.41, RRR: 16.33)
- Abrar Ahmed0 (2b)
- Omair Yousuf49 (34b)
- Obed McCoy3-0-13-1
- Naseem Shah3-0-29-1
Mohammad Amir b McCoy 23 (15m 14b 4x4 1x6) SR: 164.28