Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators: PSL 9 – as it happened

That’s it from our live coverage of the first eliminator as Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 39 runs.

Martin Guptill’s fifty set up the match for Islamabad but two collapses, one at the end of the first innings and one at the start of the chase, were the story of the match. Omair Yousuf’s fifty for the Gladiators at the end was too little, too late.

Peshawar Zalmi await for Islamabad in Saturday’s second eliminator with the winner progressing to the final to meet Multan Sultans.

We’ll be bringing it all to you here on Al Jazeera, so please do join us if you can.

For now though, from me Kevin Hand, it’s goodbye.

𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑱𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑲𝒂 𝑳𝒂𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒂𝒊 🔴

Islamabad United clinch the first Eliminator by 39 runs 🙌#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #IUvQG pic.twitter.com/Q1juKh5pQ4

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2024

“We lost momentum with the bat and we haven’t played a perfect game yet but we are still here,” the Islamabad skipper told Sky Sports.

“Now, we have a winning momentum and hopefully that will stay with us for the last couple of games as well.”

Eliminator 2️⃣ teams decided!

🟡 Zalmi 🆚 United 🔴#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel pic.twitter.com/zygyeYJNbK

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2024

The spinner claimed three wickets from his four overs and only conceded 12 runs.

“It was spinning and gripping in the last few games and that really helped,” he told Sky Sports. “I wanted to bowl slower balls not arms balls and take the pace off it.”

🌟 IMAD WASIM PLAYER OF THE MATCH 🌟#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #IUvQG pic.twitter.com/Vtt26cZVnM

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2024

Quetta captain Rilee Rossouw spoke to Sky Sports after the match.

“We’d have liked to have scored more runs. We let ourselves down with the runs this season and hopefully, we can do better next year,” he said.

“We have a lot of youngsters that have come and shown what they are capable of and it’s something we need to keep building on. The bowlers were exceptional especially Mohammad Amir.

“This is the first time in four years that we qualified for the playoffs, so it’s a step in the right direction.”

It's all about experience ✌️😎@iamamirofficial 🔥🔥#PurpleForce #IUvQG #HBLPSL9 pic.twitter.com/roW7LQBY7a

— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) March 15, 2024

Hunain Shah bowls Abrar Ahmed for five and the contest is over.

Forty-four needed from 12 and the big hitters gone – so too, it appears, are the Gladiators.

The two-time champions, Islamabad United are on their way to the second eliminator.

The right-hander hacks a short ball to deep midwicket to fall for 50.

Naseem Shah claims the wicket as Faheem Ashraf takes the cash.

That should be that.

Omair Yousuf is still swinging, but moves to fifty with a single.

The milestone comes up off 36 balls.

Forty-nine needed from 18 as Abrer Ahmed comes to the middle and plays out two dot balls following the wicket.

A slower ball out of the back of the hand from Obed McCoy beats the swing of the left-hander who departs for 23 from 14 balls.

Eighteen off the over as Omair Yousuf starts with a four hit over mid-off, then a spectacular reverse highlights the over before a glance for four more to finish.

Naseem Shah also offers two wides to help matters along.

Mohammad Amir took a liking to the leg spinner in that over, although was lucky to survive.

The drop was met with a cut over cover for four more by the left-hander.

Alex Hales shells a catch in the deep after Mohammad Amir smeared the ball to deep midwicket off Shadab Khan.

The previous ball was slammed for six over mid-off.

Mohammad Amir arrives in the middle and hits two fours before the over is out.

The first a punch through cover off the back foot then a flat-batted effort hit down the ground for four.

Mohammad Wasim attempts an upright scoop, but only deflected the ball onto the stumps and is bowled for six from 10 faced.

He got himself in a terrible mess.

Faheem Ashraf has his first wicket.

There hasn’t been a boundary for 15 balls. As long as Omair Yousuf is still there then there is a chance. The right-hander has 34* from 27.

Just three singles off the over and the required rate has climbed about 12 an over for the first time.

Ninety-six to win from 48.

Even if this doesn’t happen for Quetta, they forced a dazzling collapse, endured their own and then threatened a comeback.

Omair Yousef was likely at fault for the run out in that he clipped the ball to the deep so was watching the ball.

Either he didn’t call or didn’t shout loud enough as he was never interested in the second, but his partner turned and ran blind.

The right-hander stroked an elegant cover drive thereafter to show he has no sign of giving up.

That was no way for this partnership to end.

The pair had been going so well, but get themselves in a mix up and Akeal Hosein is run out by a long way as they attempted to come back from a second.

The left-hander falls for 31 from 18.