Islamabad United crush Quetta Gladiators to become first Pakistan Super League champions

Brad Haddin (61*), Dwayne Smith (73) played a crucial role for Islamabad in the final.

New Delhi: Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by six wickets in the final of the inaugural season of Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Tuesday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Riding on the superb knocks by Brad Haddin (61*) and Dwayne Smith (73) Islamabad chased down Quetta’s total of 174, with eight balls to spare.

After winning the toss, Islamabad decided to bowl first and fast bowler Mohammad Irfan proved the decision right by striking in the first over to dismiss opener Bismillah Khan for a duck.

Gladiators' Kevin Pietersen looked good in the middle but soon got out for 18. However, Kumar Sangakkara and Ahmed Shehzad then added 87-run partnership to take their team past 100 in the 13th over.

But after losing Sangakkara (55) in the 15th over, Gladiators kept losing wickets. But somehow they still managed to put up a challenging total of 174-7 from their 20 overs.

Openers, Dwayne Smith and Sharjeel Khan then gave their side a flying start as they smashed 15 runs in the first over.

Soon Islamabad raced to 53-0 in 5.2 overs, thanks to some big hits by the duo.

But two balls later, Nathan McCullum gave Quetta their breakthrough in the form of Sharjeel.

Unperturbed with it, Smith continued playing his shots and raced to his fifty in no time.

Smith than added another crucial fifty-run stand with Brad Haddin and took Islamabad to 104-1 in mere 12 overs.

In the 19 over, Islamabad skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored the winning run to make his side the first champions of PSL.