Sam Billings' heroics leads Islamabad to five-wicket win over Quetta
PHOTO COURTESY: PSL
Chasing a tricky target of 149 to win the match, the defending champions were in spot of bother after losing three wickets. However, Billings kept his cool and played a breathtaking innings of 78 not out off just 50 balls with the help of eight fours and three sixes.
He was well supported by veteran Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who scored a quickfire 36 off 27 balls which included four fours and two sixes.
For Quetta, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz claimed two, whereas veteran pacer Umar Gul, all-rounder Thisara Perera and young spinner Hasan Khan picked a wicket each.
Earlier, after being sent in to bat first, Quetta managed to score 148 for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Opener Asad Shafiq finished with the top score of 45 off 42 balls, which included four boundaries, whereas Mahmudullah (29 not out off 20) and Perera (27 off 18) made useful contributions with the bat lower down the order.
For United, pacers Mohammad Sami and Watson claimed two wickets each.
Presentation:
Sam Billings (Man of the match): The way Shane Watson smashed, it took pressure off me. You are never out of it, especially in the sub-continent. I felt as long as I will stay in the middle, we will win the match. It’s good to see everyone is chipping in, and for United boys it’s looking good.
Sarfraz Ahmed: We tried to put pressure on them, but Watson's innings was the turning point. Credit must be given to Islamabad United bowlers as well, who didn’t give away many runs in the depth overs. We will try not to repeat mistakes which we did today in the upcoming matches.
Misbahul Haq: Billing played a good knock, and Watto played an important hand, so it was a good win. Sami is bowling really well in the depth over, so as Rumman Raees, and I think that was the difference between two teams. The win was important, especially after what happened with our time, and when you win, a lot of things start to go your way.
ISL 149-5 (19.1 overs)
FOUR! Billings sealed an impressive victory for United.
Perera to start his last over.
OUT! Gul takes a wicket on his final ball of the day.
Gul to bowl his last over.
ISL 136-4 (18 overs)
16 runs and a wicket off the over.
Thisara Perera to start his third over.
ISL 120-3 (17 overs)
Just seven off the over.
Anwar Ali to bowl his final over.
ISL 113-3 (16 overs)
Just three off the over. A good one for Gladiators
Nawaz to start his last over.
ISL 110-3 (15 overs)
16 off the over. A great one for the defending champions.
Thisara Perera to start his new over.
ISL 94-3 (14 overs)
11 off the over. Another expensive one from the veteran pacer.
Gul to start his new over.
ISL 83-3 (13 overs)
10 off the over. A good one for Islamabad.
Hasan to continue.
ISL 73-3 (12 overs)
Just a single off the over.
Nawaz to start his new over.
ISL 72-3 (11 overs)
OUT! Big wicket for Quetta as Misbah departs.
Hasan to continue.
ISL 67-2 (10 overs)
Nine off the over.
Umar Gul to start new over.
ISL 58-2 (9 overs)
Just five off the over.
Hasan to continue.
ISL 53-2 (8 overs)
Nine and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Brad Haddin departs as well. Big wicket for Nawaz.
Nawaz to continue.
ISL 44-1 (7 overs)
Just four off the over.
Hasan Khan to start his new over.
ISL 40-1 (6 overs)
BOWLED! Dwayne Smith departs.
Mohammad Nawaz to start his first over.
14 off the over.
Anwar Ali to continue.
ISL 20-0 (4 overs)
Just four off the over.
Thisara Perera to start his first over of the day.
ISL 16-0 (3 overs)
Just two off the over.
Anwar Ali to continue.
ISL 14-0 (2 overs)
Umar Gul to start his first over.
ISL 4-0 (1 over)
Just four off the first over.
So it's Dwayne Smith and Sam Billings to open for Islamabad, Anwar Ali will start for Quetta.
So that's it every one for the first innings. Do join us for the second half of the match.
PES 148-6 (20 overs)
Just eight run of the final over.
Rumman Raees to start his third over.
PES 140-5 (19 overs)
11 off the over.
Mohammad Sami to bowl his final over.
PES 129-5 (18 overs)
11 off the over.
Rumman Raees to start his third over.
PES 118-5 (17 overs)
Just seven runs off the over.
Mohammad Sami to start his new over.
PES 111-5 (16 overs)
Nine off the over.
Watson to continue.
PES 102-4 (15 overs)
11 off the over. A good one for Quetta.
Irfan to start his last over of the day.
Just four runs off the over.
Shadab to start his new over.
PES 87-4 (13 overs)
Just two runs and a wicket.
Rumman Raees to start his new over.
PES 85-3 (12 overs)
13 off the over. A really good one for Islamabad.
Zohaib Khan to start his first over.
PES 72-3 (11 overs)
Just five off the over.
Shadab to continue.
PES 67-3 (10 overs)
Just four and a wicket off the over.
Shane Watson to continue.
PES 63-2 (9 overs)
Just five runs off the over.
Shadab to continue.
PES 58-2 (8 overs)
Nine off the over. A good one for Quetta.
Shane Watson to start his first over of the day.
PES 49-2 (7 overs)
Just five off the over.
Shadab Khan to start his first over of the day.
Just seven off the over.
Irfan to continue.
PES 37-2 (5 overs)
Just two runs and two wickets off the over. A great one Islamabad.
Mohammad Sami to continue.
PES 35-0 (4 overs)
Eight off the over.
FOUR! Shafiq struck one down the ground.
Rumman Raees to start his first over.
PES 27-0 (3 overs)
Irfan to continue.
PES 18-0 (2 overs)
Eight runs off the over.
Mohammad Sami to start his first over of the day.
PES 10-0 (1 over)
10 runs off the over. A good start for Quetta.
So it's Ahmed Shahzad and Asad Shafiq to open for Quetta, whereas Mohammad Irfan will start for Islamabad.