LAHORE: Sarfaraz Ahmed scored a fighting fifty to help Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United by five wickets and improve run-rate in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7.
The right-handed batter took responsibility as a captain and scored runs when Gladiators needed the most.
Set to chase 200, Gladiators were off to a quick start with Jason Roy (54) and Ahsan Ali (30) scoring 88 runs. James Vince scored 29 including six and three boundaries.
In middle, Sarfaraz and Umar Akmal made a solid 53-runs partnership to hand Gladiators their third victory in the tournament. Sarfaraz remained not out for 50 laced with three boundaries and two sixes whereas Umar struck 23 off eight with the help of three sixes.
For United, Shadab Khan took a wicket whereas Mohammad Wasim Jr and Liam Dawson managed to take a wicket each.
Earlier, Faheem Ashraf scored 55 runs to rescue his team United after Shahid Afridi’s heroics helped Gladiators make a resounding comeback in middle-overs of the first innings.
The left-handed batter smashed five boundaries and four sixes to score 55 runs off 28 balls to help United post 199-8 in 20 overs. In the 18th match of the super league here at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, United were sent into bat first.
In absence of Paul Stirling, Rahmanullah Gurbaz opened the account with Alex Hales, ending up scoring 48 runs together. The start wasn’t similar to what Hales and Stirling had done previously in the event.
But, Hales kept ticking the scoreboard and helped United score 100 runs in just 10 overs. He went run-out after scoring 62 off 38 balls laced with four boundaries and as many sixes.
With two back-to-back wickets and a run-out, Afridi put things back on track for Gladiators. His spell bounding bowling figures of 2-27 not only registered his impressive comeback but also helped Gladiators reduce United from 100-1 to 109-6 within no time.
James Faulkner and Noor Ahmed also supported the bowling maestro by taking a wicket each to take control of United in middle overs. Faulkner ended up taking two wickets.
Apart from Ashraf, Wasim Jr came in the end and struck two sixes off two balls to finish strongly for two-time PSL champions.
