Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Nathan Lyon believes the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 represents a significant step in Australia's quest to become one of the all-time great Test teams.The 37-year-old off-spinner is part of Andrew McDonald’s squad to take on South Africa at Lord’s in the finale of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.Australia will be looking to defend the title they won in 2023 after beating India by 209 runs at The Oval, and Lyon, who took the match-winning wicket of Mohammed Siraj in that victory, wants to build on the progress that has been made since then.“It is important that we look at this week as a celebration piece,” he said.“We’ve done incredibly well over the last couple of years, at home and away, and that is something that as a team, we should be really proud of.“In my eyes, we’re on a journey to becoming a great Australian team. We’re not there yet, I’m well aware of that, but that’s our goal too.“This game is another step up that ladder.”Australia finished second in the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, having claimed 67.54 per cent of the points on offer to them.They were also the only nation not to lose a series in that time, winning four of the six series they played.Their percentage was only bettered by the table-topping Proteas’ 69.44 per cent.Lyon, a New South Wales native, has taken 56 wickets against South Africa in 18 matches during his career and expects nothing less than a fierce contest with the side captained by Temba Bavuma.“Yes, we’ve been here before, but South Africa qualified first during this World Test Championship,” he continued.“Throughout these two years, they’ve done something really well to finish top, and so they deserve that home changing room leading into this game.“It’s international cricket. We’re expecting an extremely hard challenge and there’s going to be a lot of problems out there, but we’re going to have to be good enough to solve those problems ASAP.”Australia have plenty of firepower within their bowling ranks for this match, with five of those selected within the top 14 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling rankings.Lyon himself sits fifth on that list, with captain Pat Cummins in third, Josh Hazlewood in fourth, with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland in 11th and 14th, respectively.Cummins (73), Starc (72) and Lyon (66) also currently occupy positions two through four on the leading wicket-takers list for this edition of the WTC, with only India’s Jasprit Bumrah ahead of them with 77 wickets.The presence of multiple experienced and skilled bowlers in the Australian camp is only improving the standards in training, revealed Lyon.“As a bowling squad, we are very proud of where we are currently at,” he said.“But we’re not leaving any stone unturned and we’re still trying to get better as a bowling group.“I feel that spurs each and every one of us on to get better.”Australia last played Test cricket in England during the 2023 Ashes series – the opening contest of the 2023-25 WTC cycle – but many from the squad have since taken the opportunity to return to play on the shores of the old rival.Lyon played for Lancashire in 2024, while Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Beau Webster have represented Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, respectively, this season.Green’s stint in England has been particularly impressive, with the all-rounder plundering 467 runs in just five County Championship Division 2 matches at an average of 66.71.He has also scored three hundreds, including match-winning knocks of 128 and 67 not out against Kent in mid-May.And Lyon feels the 26-year-old will learn a lot from his stint in the West Country.“It’s been amazing to have Greeny over here,” he added.“I think he’s played four or five games for Gloucestershire and done really well. So, hopefully, that gives him the confidence to pick things up from where he left off.“It’s important, especially for the younger players, like Greeny, to come over here and play county cricket.“I feel like you get a lot of understanding of how the game is played over here in these conditions, how the Dukes ball moves around and how the overhead conditions play a role.”

Islamabad(Sports Desk): South Africa’s 15-man squad for their first-ever appearance in an ICC World Test Championship final contains a mixture of youth and experience.Here is a rundown of the Proteas players gunning for glory at Lord’s.Temba BavumaBavuma arrives at Lord’s fresh from an excellent home summer, scoring centuries against Sri Lanka and Pakistan during series victories which booked his side’s place at Lord’s.The 35-year-old made his Test debut on Boxing Day of 2014 against the West Indies and is currently listed sixth in the ICC’s men’s Test batting rankings.Tony de ZorziDe Zorzi captained South Africa at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2016 but has had to be patient to make his mark on the senior international stage.His first Test century was in Chittagong in October 2024, a sparkling 177, and his command of the pull shot makes the left-hander an attractive player to watch. The 27-year-old is also a fine short leg fielder.Aiden MarkramAnother to have led South Africa at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, lifting the trophy in 2014, Markram is closing in on 3,000 Test runs and has seven centuries to his name in the longest format.The top-order batter captains the Proteas in T20 cricket and guided them to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year, in which they were beaten by India.Wiaan MulderA seam bowling all-rounder, Mulder is no stranger to English conditions having represented Kent and Leicestershire in recent years – scoring a career best 235 not out for the latter in 2022.The 27-year-old was still at school when he made his first-class debut in 2016 and was promoted up the order in South Africa’s most recent Test against Pakistan, batting at number three having never previously come in higher than six.Marco JansenThe giant 2.06m left-armer averages under 22 with the ball after 17 Tests, with the highlight coming in Durban last year when he ripped through Sri Lanka with seven for 13 as the Proteas skittled their opponents for just 42.Jansen is also handy with the bat and blasted a 16-ball half century against India in November 2024. His twin brother, Duan, is also a professional cricketer.Kagiso RabadaAn elite pace bowler, Rabada is fifth on South Africa’s all-time list of Test wicket takers and arrives at Lord’s three shy of levelling Allan Donald’s tally of 330.He is ranked second in the world in Tests – with only Jasprit Bumrah ahead of him – and he is already on the honours board at the Home of Cricket after taking five for 52 against England in 2022.Keshav MaharajSouth Africa’s most successful ever spinner in Test cricket, Maharaj is two shy of reaching 200 wickets and his average is on the right side of 30.The slow left-armer made his Test debut in Perth in 2016 but will be looking to improve on a modest record against this summer’s final opponents – he has taken 22 scalps at 45 in nine Tests against Australia.Lungi NgidiThe 29-year-old seamer is making a well-timed return from injury having sat out the home summer in South Africa with a groin problem.He announced his arrival on to the Test scene in style with six for 39 against India in 2018 and currently averages a shade over 23 after 19 appearances.Corbin BoschTook to Test cricket like a duck to water on his debut against Pakistan in last year’s Boxing Day Test, grabbing a wicket with his first ball – and going on to take four for 63 – before striking an unbeaten 81 from number nine.The son of former Proteas Test player Tertius, Bosch’s brother Eathan is also a full international having made his ODI debut in February.Kyle VerreynneThe wicketkeeper-batter announced himself in Test cricket in February 2022 with a sparkling unbeaten 136 which helped the Proteas level a series in New Zealand.He has become acclimatised to English conditions in the past two summers during spells with Nottinghamshire and began his latest stint with a ton against Essex at Trent Bridge in April.David BedinghamAnother player to have excelled in English domestic cricket, Bedingham scored nearly 200 runs more than anyone else in Division One of the County Championship last season and his 279 against Lancashire was the highest score in Durham’s first-class history.The 31-year-old right-hander, who can also keep wicket, scored his first – and so far, only – Test century against New Zealand in February 2024.Tristan StubbsThe only way was up for Tristan Stubbs after his Test bow, which saw him become just the second player in history to be dismissed twice on the first day of his debut.The aggressive, inventive batter now has two Test tons to his name and an average of 33.33, while he has excelled in South Africa’s domestic red ball competition and remains a key part of his nation’s limited overs sides.Ryan RickeltonThe stylish left-hander made a dream start to 2025, scoring 259 against Pakistan at Newlands during his first innings as a Test opener before winning the SA20 with MI Cape Town.An all-round sportsman growing up, Rickelton has been in and out of the Test side since his debut in 2022 but will hope that New Year’s knock – the joint-seventh highest Test score by a South African – will cement his place for Lord’s.Senuran MuthusamyA very useful player with bat and ball, left-arm spinner Muthusamy claimed a memorable scalp for his first Test wicket when he held on to a return catch to dismiss Virat Kohli in October 2019.He has played just three more Tests since but is a reliable operator for Dolphins, with eight first-class centuries and more than 250 wickets to his name.Dane PatersonNo-one has had a closer view of Lord’s in the build-up to the ICC World Test Championship final than Dane Paterson, who has started the season with Middlesex in England’s County Championship.Appearances have been sporadic over his eight-year international career, but the 36-year-old impressed in last year’s Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, taking five for 61 – his best figures in the format.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: As part of the ongoing trophy tour celebrating their recent Pakistan Super League (PSL) title win, Lahore Qalandars owner Atif Rana visited the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and met with Chargé d'Affaires, Natalie A. Baker.The visit served as a goodwill gesture, bringing together representatives of Lahore Qalandars and members of the U.S. Embassy’s cricket team and fan community. During the meeting, Mr. Rana presented a signed Lahore Qalandars jersey to Baker as a token of appreciation. The two sides shared their mutual passion for cricket and discussed the sport’s growing influence across cultures and borders.Baker had attended two Qalandars matches this season, including the thrilling final and has been enthusiastic about team’s energy, resilience, and eventual become a title triumphant. “Watching cricket live has been such an exciting experience,” said Ms Baker “I was thrilled to see such a huge fan base and such a crowd at Gaddafi Stadium the other night. As an American, I grew up around baseball, and it’s fascinating to see the parallels and passion that cricket inspires. With both sports now part of the Olympics, I look forward to seeing them spark even greater global connection. I want to sincerely thank the Lahore Qalandars for welcoming me and making me feel like part of their family.”Rana expressed gratitude for the embassy’s engagement with cricket and extended appreciation to Ms. Baker for her support. “I’m truly delighted to see cricket sparking conversations at the U.S. Embassy and to witness the enthusiasm of American friends toward this beautiful game,” he said. “We’re especially thankful to Baker for attending our matches. She will forever be a part of the Qalandars family—as we say, once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar.”Fresh off their PSL title victory, Lahore Qalandars continue to use the trophy tour to connect with fans and promote cricket development at home and abroad.Lahore Qalandars have emerged as one of the most successful franchises in PSL history, winning three titles in four last years. They also hold the distinction of being the only team to win back-to-back championships, achieving this rare feat in 2022 and 2023.

 Lahore(SBR):The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle, who is a member of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control teams for the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Lahore.Madugalle, who has also officiated the most international cricket matches (804) across three formats as Match Referee, also led playing control teams in seven matches of the recently concluded HBL PSL X.For the first T20I, Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz – both part of the PCB International Panel of Umpires, will be the on-field umpires. Ahsan Raza, member of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires will be the third umpire, while Faisal Khan Aafreedi – an ICC International Panel Umpire, will act as the fourth umpire.In the second T20I, Rashid Riaz will join Faisal Khan Aafreedi to perform the on-field duties while Ahsan Raza will be the third umpire. Asif Yaqoob will be the fourth umpire.For the third T20I, Ahsan Raza will be joined by Asif Yaqoob to perform on-field duties, while Faisal Khan Aafreedi will be the third umpire. Rashid Riaz will work as the fourth umpire for the final T20I of the series.

TAXILA(SBR):Koliyan Eleven emerged as champions of the Fourth HMC Hard Ball Cricket Tournament after defeating Strikers Cricket Club by six wickets in a thrilling final held at the HMC Cricket Ground. The highlight of the match was a breathtaking innings by Usman Shah, who was named Player of the Match for his explosive 83 runs off just 34 balls.Batting first, Strikers Cricket Club posted a competitive total of 183 runs in their allotted 20 overs, losing all wickets. Ismail played a responsible knock, scoring 50 runs off 40 balls, while Ahsan Saleem added 38, and Rana Fasih smashed a quickfire 29 from just 15 deliveries. For Koliyan Eleven, Haji Usman and Usman Shah both took two wickets, with Umar Khabbhi contributing one.In response, Koliyan Eleven chased down the target in 18 overs, losing only four wickets. Usman Shah's aggressive batting set the tone for the successful run chase, supported by a solid 35 off 26 balls from Shani DSP and an impressive 30-run contribution by Naveed. Ismail claimed two wickets for Strikers, while Rashid Latif and Rana Fasih picked up one each.Following the match, the chief guest, renowned social figure of Taxila, Malik Sohail Akhtar, distributed prizes and encouraged the players. In a major announcement welcomed with loud cheers, Malik Sohail pledged to install a dedicated practice net for hardball cricket at the ground, fulfilling a long-standing dream of local cricketers.The winning team, Koliyan Eleven, was awarded a trophy along with a cash prize of PKR 40,000, while the runner-up, Strikers Cricket Club, received a trophy and PKR 20,000. Additionally, the organizing committee was rewarded with PKR 50,000 for their efforts..

Lahore(SBR): Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Lahore Qalandars romped to their third HBL PSL title in four years as they beat Quetta Gladiators by six wickets in a thrilling last-over finale here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night in front of a packed house.Qalandars, who notched their second-highest successful chase, hunted down the 202-run target with one ball to spare as they became the second team besides Islamabad United to bag three HBL PSL titles in the tournament’s 10-year history.The successful 202-run chase by Qalandars is also the highest target surmounted by a team in a T20 final.Kusal Perera, who top-scored for Qalandars with a blazing 62 not out, joined forces with Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza to help their team complete a come-from-behind triumph as the duo stitched an unbeaten 19-ball 59-run fifth-wicket stand.Qalandars required 57 off 20 balls when the Perera and Sikandar got together with the latter making his mark right from the get-go as he struck a six and a four against Mohammad Amir off his first two balls to close off the 17th over of the innings.In the subsequent over, Perera struck two sixes against Khurram Shahzad consigning him for 16 runs. With the required rate above 15, the penultimate over saw Qalandars ransacking 18 runs as Perera again smacked Amir for two fours and a six on the last ball to bring the equation down to 13 required off the final over.Faheem Ashraf gave away only five runs on the first three balls before Raza (22 not out, 7b) bludgeoned a sensational six over deep cover-point followed by a four – the winning shot, to seal the title for Qalandars.Perera, who harvested 170 runs in four games this season, backed up his Eliminator two half-century with the match-winning unbeaten fifty in final in which he hit five fours and four sixes facing 31 balls.After Qalandars were 85-2 in the ninth over, Perera also stitched a 30-run partnership each with Abdullah Shafique (41, 28b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (14, 16b, 1x4, 1x6) to keep the innings intact.At the start of the chase, Mohammad Naeem provided his team with a head-start as he struck six sixes and one four in his 27-ball 46 including a 39-run opening stand with Fakhar Zaman (11, 10b, 2x4s) and a steady 46-run second-wicket partnership with Abdullah.Naeem set the tone for Lahore’s successful chase by striking four sixes in a space of five balls across the second and third overs helping his team collect 56 runs off the Powerplay. Qalandars were 97-2 at the halfway stage before they belted the required remaining 105 runs off the next 9.5 overs.Earlier, Quetta Gladiators posted their third-highest total of the HBL PSL X after stumbling to 21-2 with Shaheen and Mohammad Salman Mirza removing the both openers cheaply.Gladiators’ top run-scorer in the innings and best batter of the tournament Hasan Nawaz fought back with 76 off 43 balls keeping the run flow going. Hasan and Rilee Rossouw wrestled back with a 19-ball 37-run stand after two early blows, which also saw their team finish the Powerplay with 57-2.Sikandar then removed Rossouw bringing on Avishka Fernando (29, 22b, 5x4) to the crease as he partnered Hasan for the next 6.3 overs. The duo struck nine fours and two sixes collectively in a 67-run stand for the fourth wicket to keep Lahore’s bowling attack on their toes.Dinesh Chandimal too helped Gladiators by assisting Hasan in a brisk 46-run stand, where the experienced Sri Lankan batter hit two sixes before departing in the 18th over for a 13-ball 22.Shaheen and Haris Rauf then stemmed Gladiators’ progress by delivering a two-wicket over each for eight runs collectively as the 2019 champions found themselves 178-8 in 19 overs.The last over of the innings saw Faheem hit Salman Mirza for three towering sixes and a four to collect 23 runs before falling for an eight-ball 28 on the last ball of the innings.For Lahore, skipper Shaheen, also the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 19 scalps, returned impressive figures of 4-0-24-3, while Salman and Haris picked up two wickets each.Scores in brief:Match 34: Final – Lahore Qalandars beat Quetta Gladiators by six wickets at Gaddafi StadiumQuetta Gladiators 201-9, 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 76, Avishka Fernando 29, Faheem Ashraf 28, Rilee Rossouw 22, Dinesh Chandimal 22; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-24, Haris Rauf 2-41, Mohammad Salman Mirza 2-51)Lahore Qalandars 204-4, 19.5 overs (Kusal Perera 62 not out, Mohammad Naeem 46, Abdullah Shafique 41, Sikandar Raza 22 not out; Abrar Ahmed 1-27)Player of the final – Kusal Perera (Lahore Qalandars)Best batter of the tournament – Hasan Nawaz (Quetta Gladiators) – 399 runs in 12 matchesBest bowler of the tournament – Abrar Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators) – 17 wickets in 12 matchesBest wicket-keeper of the tournament – Mohammad Haris (Peshawar Zalmi) – 247 runs & 12 dismissals in 10 matchesBest fielder of the tournament – Abdul Samad (Peshawar Zalmi) – Nine catches in five matchesEmerging player of the tournament – Mohammad Naeem (Lahore Qalandars) – 316 runs and seven catches in 12 matchesBest all-rounder of the tournament – Faheem Ashraf (Quetta Gladiators) – 163 runs and 17 wickets in 12 matchesWinner of Spirit of Cricket Award – Peshawar Zalmi

Dubai(UAE): The Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) Chairman Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan has congratulated the UAE Men’s team on their historic series win over Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Mohammad Waseem-led UAE stunned their experienced rivals in the last two matches of the series, with the victory sealed with a comfortable seven-wicket win on Wednesday night – 21 May – courtesy a stunning bowling performance by Haider Ali (three wickets for seven runs) and an unbeaten 87-run fourth-wicket partnership between Alishan Sharafu (68 not out) and Asif Khan (41 not out). Chairman Emirates Cricket Board Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan: “The Emirates Cricket Board is delighted with the outstanding performance of the UAE Men’s team in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The team played brilliantly in the whole series while the support staff put in the hard yards to make the victory possible.“I want to congratulate the entire squad and wish them the very best in their upcoming international assignments. The ECB will continue to provide the best possible facilities and exposure to our immensely talented players, UAE continues to impress in the T20I format and the Bangladesh series win is another glorious chapter in our cricketing history. “In the recent past, the team has defeated formidable Test playing opponents like Afghanistan and New Zealand, the series win will give immense confidence and self-belief to our players and make them take on bigger and more established opponents.”

Lahore(SBR): Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman’s blitzy knocks of 65 and 47, respectively helped Lahore Qalandars ace the 191-run chase against Karachi Kings with six wickets in hand in the eliminator 1 of the HBL PSL X here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday night.Lahore Qalandars will now face Islamabad United in the Eliminator 2 on Friday, 23 May at the same venue, while Karachi Kings’ campaign came to an end in HBL PSL X, where they won six matches and lost five. The winner of Eliminator 2 is set to play Quetta Gladiators in the 25 May final. In pursuit of the target, Fakhar and Mohammad Naeem (14, 12b, 1x4, 1x6) put on 42 runs before the latter fell prey to Hasan Ali. Fakhar, who faced 28 balls for his 47, struck five fours and three sixes during his stay on the crease setting the tone for Qalandars’ joint second-highest successful chase in HBL PSL.Abdullah, who walked in to bat in the 5th over, stitched a 33-run stand with Fakhar off 22 balls before taking on the Karachi bowlers aggressively in presence of Kusal Perera (30, 24b, 1x4, 1x6). With Fakhar’s departure in the ninth over, Qalandars were 89-2 at the halfway mark requiring 10.20 runs an over.The duo of Abdullah and Kusal ransacked 67 runs in the next five overs putting the Kings’ bowlers on the back foot before Hasan Ali put an end to the blazing 83-run third-wicket stand.Abdullah, who struck three fours and five sixes, to raise his eighth HBL PSL half-century, fell in the 16th over courtesy a brilliant grab by James Vince.Qalandars chased the total with eight balls in the bag as Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit two fours and a six – the winning shot, in his breezy 12-ball 23 not out. For Karachi Hasan picked up two wickets, while Fawad Ali and Mir Hamza dismissed one batter each.Earlier, Karachi Kings raced to 190-8 with David Warner leading the charge with the bat as he hit 75 during his 15-over stay at the crease. The next best score was no.6 batter Khushdil Shah’s unbeaten 27 as Lahore Qalandars pace attack shared six wickets among them.After Kings opted to bat, Shaheen Shah Afridi drew the first blood for Qalandars removing Tim Seifert for an eight-ball 16 and putting an end to a brisk 43-run stand, which came off 24 balls. Vince, who fell for a nine-ball four, was eked out by Shakib Al Hasan as Kings were 74-2 in seven overs.While Warner kept on jotting runs, Kings lost Saad Baig (11, 11b, 1x4) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (18, 12b, 1x6) in a space of 22 balls. Qalandars’ Mohammad Naeem proved effective against the Australian southpaw dismissing him for a 52-ball 75 inclusive of eight fours and three sixes in the 16th over.That the Kings were able to collect 50 runs off the last five overs, was largely due Khushdil Shah hitting three fours and two sixes in his 14-ball stay, while Mohammad Nabi chipped in with a 12-ball 18-run outing including one six.For Qalandars, Haris Rauf led the way with figures of 4-0-35-3 and Shaheen picked up two wickets.Scores in brief:Match 32: Eliminator 1: Lahore Qalandars beat Karachi Kings by six wickets at Gaddafi StadiumKarachi Kings 190-8, 20 overs (David Warner 75, Khushdil Shah 27 not out; Haris Rauf 3-35, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-47)Lahore Qalandars 191-4, 18.4 overs (Abdullah Shafique 65, Fakhar Zaman 47, Kusal Perera 30, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 23 not out; Hasan Ali 2-37)Player of the match – Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars)Friday’s fixture:Eliminator 2 – Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars at Gaddafi Stadium; 7.30pm PKT

Lahore(May 22, 2025): Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has rejoined the Lahore Qalandars squad after completing his national duty and will be available for selection in the much-anticipated PSL 2025 Eliminator against Karachi Kings.Rishad has made an immediate impression in his debut season with Lahore Qalandars, bringing energy and control to the bowling attack. In just five matches, he had taken 9 wickets at an average of 16.44, highlighting his ability to strike in key moments.His return is a timely boost for the Qalandars as they prepare for a high-stakes encounter in the knockout stage of the tournament. (PR)

Lahore(SBR):Quetta Gladiators on the back of an all-round performance by Faheem Ashraf beat Islamabad United by 30 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday night to qualify for the final of HBL PSL X. The final will take place on Sunday, 25 May. Chasing a target of 209 runs set by the Gladiators in the Qualifier, United lost their in-form opener Alex Hales for no score in the second over to Faheem. After Hales’ dismissal, Sahibzada Farhan was joined by Rassie van der Dussen and the pair stitched a 71-run partnership for the second wicket. Van der Dussen (35 off 23 balls, four fours, two sixes) was the next batter to get dismissed in the ninth over of the innings.Farhan – also the recipient of the Hanif Mohammad Cap, top-scored for his side with a 35-ball 52, hitting eight fours and a six. Besides Farhan, Salman Ali Agha contributed 44 off 26 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Shadab Khan was the only other United batter to reach double figures.The target proved too steep for the defending champions as they were bowled out for 179 in 19.4 overs.For Gladiators, Usman Tariq took three wickets for 32 runs, while Faheem, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim Jnr claimed two wickets each.Earlier, after opting to bat first, the Gladiators posted 209 for six in their 20 overs. After losing five wickets for 113 in 11.5 overs, Sri Lanka’s international Dinesh Chandimal and Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf came together and knitted a vital 95-run stand for the sixth wicket. The left-handed Faheem was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the innings after scoring 45 off 23 balls, which included four fours and three sixes.Chandimal remained unbeaten on 48 off 28 balls, hitting four boundaries and three towering sixes. Opening batter Finn Allen was another notable contributor, scoring 41 off 27 balls with seven fours.For United, Ben Dwarshuis and Salman Irshad picked up two wickets apiece.Despite tonight’s defeat, Islamabad United can still reach the final if they win Eliminator 2, scheduled on 23 May.Scores in brief:Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United by 30 runs at Gaddafi StadiumQuetta Gladiators 209-6, 20 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 48, Faheem Ashraf 45, Finn Allen 41, Avishka Fernando 32; Ben Dwarshuis 2-31, Salman Irshad 2-34)Islamabad United 179 all out, 19.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 52, Salman Ali Agha 44, Rassie van der Dussen 35; Usman Tariq 3-32, Mohammad Amir 2-31, Faheem Ashraf 2-33, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-38)Player of the match: Faheem Ashraf (Quetta Gladiators)Thursday’s fixture:Eliminator 1 – Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars at Gaddafi Stadium; 7.30pm PKT