Islamabad eliminate Quetta in Pakistan Super League playoff

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim brilliantly claimed 3-12 in the power play as Islamabad United sunk Quetta Gladiators and advanced in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs on Friday night.

Two-time former champion Islamabad will meet Peshawar Zalmi in eliminator 2 on Saturday and the winner will progress to Monday’s final against Multan Sultans.

After Islamabad posted 174-9, Quetta was all out for 135 in the 19th over of its first playoff game in four years. Islamabad won by 39 runs.

Umair Yousuf's fighting 50 wasn't enough to overcome the damage inflicted in the first six overs by Wasim, whose three wickets helped to reduce Quetta to 16-5.

Saud Shakeel gloved a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Azam Khan in the first over; captain Rilee Rossouw was caught at deep square leg; and Khawaja Nafay offered a tame catch at mid-off.

Jason Roy’s woeful season with the bat ended without joy when he was caught at first slip on 1 off Naseem Shah, and Laurie Evans was run out in a mix-up with Akeal Hosein as Quetta lost half of its side in the power play.

Earlier, Martin Guptill made 56 on a two-paced pitch in his first league game of the season. Guptill featured in two half-century stands with Alex Hales (23) and Salman Ali Agha (31). Quetta came back strong in the last four overs, claiming six wickets in the space of 15 balls for 12 runs. But 179 was still too far Quetta to run down.