Islamabad United 117 (19.1/20 ov)
Watson 40; Elliott 3-25
Quetta Gladiators 118/3 (16.1/20 ov)
Sarfraz 51 not out, Shehzad 41; Russell 3-18
Quetta Gladiators won by 7 wickets
SHARJAH // Grant Elliott flew in from Brendon McCullum's victorious farewell series in New Zealand in time to star for Quetta Gladiators on his Pakistan Super League debut.
The Black Caps all-rounder took three wickets as the Gladiators picked up a fourth win in the competition, this time by seven wickets over Islamabad United.
Perhaps appropriately, given he was freshly arrived from a limited-overs series win over Australia, who face New Zealand in McCullum’s 100th Test starting Friday, Elliott’s first victim was Brad Haddin.
It must have been a satisfying little victory for the bowler. The Australian wicket-keeper had memorably given Elliott a send off when he was dismissed in the World Cup final last year.
The contrast to a day earlier was striking for United. Whereas Sharjeel Khan and Shane Watson had razed the opposition bowlers then, the batting line up folded limply this time.
In reply, Quetta’s opener Ahmed Shehzad set about the small target as though he had a point to prove.
The man who was overlooked by Pakistan for the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 made 41 in 31 balls. Then, just after hitting Andre Russell for six, he fell to the next delivery.
Russell bowled with great pace, and produced the sort of sharp bounce that is seldom seen at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
He accounted for Shahzad, Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen - who was bowled first ball - but the total was too low for him to defend on his own.
Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammed Nawaz, each of whom will be on the flight to Bangladesh then India, took the Gladiators to the win.
Sarfraz, the captain, made 51 not out as the Quetta franchise won with 23-balls to spare.
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