KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith grabbed two wickets but then perished for a two-ball ‘duck’ as Quetta Gladiators slumped to their fourth defeat in five games to remain rooted to the bottom of the Pakistan Super League.
In pursuit of Islamabad United’s massive 220 for six after wicketkeeper Azam Khan struck a 42-ball 97, Gladiators collapsed from 95 for three in the 11th over to 157 all out at the start of the final over, to suffer a comprehensive 63-run loss.
Smith, this week named in both West Indies white-ball squads for next month’s tour of South Africa, grabbed two for 41 and followed up by skying his second delivery to long on off fast bowler Hasan Ali (3-39) at the end of the 17th over in his side’s failed run chase.
Choosing to bat first at the National Stadium here Friday, United were going nowhere at 43 for three in the seventh over before Azam put on 28 for the fourth wicket with Colin Munro (38), 98 for the fifth wicket with Asif Ali (42) and 49 for the sixth wicket with Faheem Ashraf (17 not out).
The 24-year-old Azam, who turns out for Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League, blasted nine fours and eight sixes before becoming Smith’s second wicket off the final ball of the innings, bowled with a well disguised slower yorker.
In reply, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed (2-21) struck twice with the new ball to reduce Gladiators to 26 for three in the fourth over before Mohammed Hafeez (48), captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (41) and Iftikhar Ahmed (39) all combined in an attempt to revive the run chase.
Hafeez, who struck half-dozen fours and a couple of sixes off 26 deliveries, added 69 for the fourth wicket with Sarfaraz who then put on a further 32 for the fifth wicket with Iftikhar. However, leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-24) and Hasan Ali scythed through the lower order as Gladiators lost their last six wickets for 30 runs.