Islamabad United qualifies for Eliminator 2, to face Peshawar Zalmi today

Islamabad United defeated Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League season Nine (PSL-9) Eliminator 1 match and qualified for Eliminator 2 and now it will face Peshawar Zalmi in Eliminator 2 today. After losing the match, Quetta Gladiators knocked out of the tournament.
Playing first, a middle-order collapse restricted Islamabad United to post 174/9 runns in the Eliminator 1 played at National Bank Stadium Karachi on Friday night.
Martin Guptal's fifty and Azam Khan blitz in last overs powered Islamabad United to build a competitive score for the Quetta Gladiators.
Shadab Khan’s decision to bat first, bore fruits for the United as the two-time champions got off to a flying start to their innings.
Islamabad United’s opening pair of Martin Guptill and Alex Hales put together a 51-run partnership which lasted in the sixth over.
Guptill dominated the opening stand while Hales fell victim to Akeal Hosein after a 20-ball 23 which featured three boundaries including two sixes.
Salman Ali Agha then joined Guptil in the middle and added an important 51 runs for the second wicket before falling victim to Saud Shakeel in the 12th over.
Skipper Shadab Khan (23) and Azam Khan (18) then partnered briefly with Guptill and made modest contributions with brisk cameos in the middle overs.
Martin Guptill remained the top-scorer for the United with a 47-ball 56 which included five boundaries and a six.
Mohammad Amir and Akeal Hosein bagged two wickets each for the Gladiators while Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel and Abrar Ahmed struck out a batter apiece.
later, Islamabad United's Imad Wasim’s exceptional bowling display, claiming three crucial wickets for a mere 12 runs, combined with Martin Guptill’s explosive innings of 56 runs off 47 balls, propelled Islamabad United to a competitive total of 174-9 after being put into bat.
The Gladiators, chasing a target of 175, faced a daunting task against United’s bowling attack. Despite Omair Yousuf’s resilient knock of 50 runs off 37 balls, which included four boundaries and one six, the Gladiators faltered, ultimately succumbing to the pressure and being bowled out for 135 runs in the 19th over. Akeal Hosein showed promise with the bat, contributing a quickfire 31 off 18 balls before being run out in a joint effort from Agha Salman and Azam Khan. Mohammad Amir displayed his class with the ball, picking up two crucial wickets for 20 runs for the Gladiators. Akeal Hosein also made an impact, claiming two wickets for 34 runs. Saud Shakeel, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Wasim chipped in with a wicket each, while Usman Tariq remained wicketless. For Islamabad United, the bowling effort was led by Imad Wasim’s exceptional performance, ably supported by Naseem Shah, Obed McCoy, Hunain Shah, and Faheem Ashraf, who all contributed with crucial wickets to secure their team’s victory. In summary, it was a comprehensive performance by Islamabad United, who showcased their all-round prowess to secure a convincing 39-run victory over Quetta Gladiators and advance to the next stage of the tournament.