Smith, Haddin star as Islamabad beat Quetta to lift first PSL title

DUBAI: Opener Dwayne Smith and wicket keeper batsman Brad Haddin scored fiery half-centuries to help Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets to lift the first-ever Pakistan Super League (PSL) title here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.

The West Indian made 73 runs off 51 balls smashing 7 fours and 4 sixes while the Aussie scored an unbeaten 61 in 39 deliveries with 2 fours and 5 sixes as United achieved the challenging 175 run target with ease in the 19th over.

No Gladiators bowler could put a stop to flow of runs throughout the United innings leaking too many bad deliveries much to the disappointment of Quetta fans.

Anwar, McCullum, Cheema and Zulfiqar Babar shared a wicket each for Gladiators.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad and Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara also scored half-centuries to lift Quetta Gladiators to 174 for the loss of 7 wickets setting a 175 run target for United.

Gladiators lost two early wickets for 33 but then Shehzad and Sangakkara changed the scene adding 87 from 56 balls for the third wicket partnership. Shehzad made 64 runs off 39 deliveries with 9 fours and a six and the Islander scored a 32-ball 55, hitting 7 fours and two sixes.

Kevin Pietersen with run-a-ball 18, Anwar Ali 13 and Grant Elliott with 12 were the other notable contributors.

Andre Russell was the pick of the bowlers, grabbing three wickets for 31. Irfan took two while Badree and Mohammaf Sami shared a wicket each for United.

Islamabad United captain Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss and invited Quetta Gladiators skipper Sarfraz Ahmed to bat first in the final of inaugural edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium earlier in the evening.

Speaking on the occasion, both skippers expressed their desire to win it for the people of Pakistan and revive the lost passion of cricket in the nation.

The two captains said they are fielding unchanged sides in the all-important game from their last matches.

National anthems of United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan were played at the start of the final with chief guest UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan shaking hands with players of the two teams.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zaradri were also present on the occasion.

Teams

Islamabad United: Sharjeel Khan, Dwayne Smith, Asif Ali, Brad Haddin, Khalid Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Andre Russell, Samuel Badree, Imran Khalid, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Sami

Quetta Gladiators: Bismillah Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, KP Pietersen, KC Sangakkara, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Mohammad Nawaz, GD Elliott, NL McCullum, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Aizaz Cheema