PSL 7: Colin, Azam start as Islamabad beat Quetta by 43 runs

Karachi: Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 43 runs in the 10th match of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) seventh edition 2022 at National Stadium Karachi. 

Colin Munro and Azam Khan's scintillating half-centuries helped Islamabad United to set mammoth 229-run target for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs against Quetta Gladiators.

Gladiators skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed put United into bat after winning the toss, but the decision turned out to be a daunting one for his team as United batters went all guns blazing from the beginning.

United's opener Colin Munro played a sheer entertaining knock of 72 runs with the help of five sixes, while Azam Khan scored 65 with six huge sixes as they both smashed Shahid Afridi to all parts of the park in his first match.

Afridi was the most expensive bowler for Quetta as he conceded 67 runs in four overs but clean bowled the dangerous-looking Azam.

Apart from spinner Mohammad Nawaz who took two wickets for 32 runs in four overs, all the Gladiators bowlers were smashed.

Earlier, Quetta Gladistors won the toss and opted to field first against Islamabad United.

So far, 13 matches have been played between the two sides with Quetta Gladiators pocketing victories in seven matches and Islamabad United emerging victorious in six outings.

In Karachi, two games between the two sides have been played so far, with equal winning ratio.

The match started at 7:30pm.

Islamabad United will play their third match. They were defeated by Multan Sultans by 20 runs in the second match.

Quetta Gladiators are in third place with two points after winning one and losing two matches.

Playing XIs 

Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, James Vince, Shimron Hetmyer, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), James Faulkner, Mohammad Nawaz, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah

Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Paul Stirling, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Marchant de Lange, Hasan Ali, Muhammad Musa