Survival hopes fading fast for embattled Quetta as Islamabad win.

Byline: Khalid H. Khan

KARACHI -- Former HBL Pakistan Super League champions Quetta Gladiators succumbed meekly to their fourth straight defeat as Islamabad United cruised to a comfortable six-wicket triumph at the National Stadium here on Tuesday night.

The result also came as a sigh of relief for Islamabad, who lifted the coveted trophy twice in 2016 and 2018, as they finally ended a four-match losing streak against Quetta when they reached the rather modest target of 157 in 17 overs after restricting their opponents to 156-7.

The sixth edition's fixture - which was postponed on Monday after Islamabad United spinner Fawad Ahmed returned a positive Covid-19 test - was predictably won by the side winning the toss and fielding. And once Sarfaraz Ahmed called incorrectly when Shadab Khan spun the coin, the 12th result of runs been successfully chased down was never in doubt.

Despite Sarfaraz hitting up a pugnacious half-century, Quetta lost momentum at the backend of their innings and mustered only 56 runs in the final seven overs during which they managed a solitary six and one four, both being struck by Mohammad Nawaz (unbeaten 31 off 29 balls).

Paul Stirling then made short work of the listless Quetta bowling as the Ireland right-hander thrashed 56 from 33 deliveries - after racing to 52 in just 21 balls - while outscoring his more illustrious batting partner Alex Hales during their electrifying first-wicket partnership of 76 in 35 balls.

Both Hales (23 off 13 balls, five boundaries) and Stirling, who crunched eight fours and two sixes, fell to leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, who was the only bright spot for the Sarfaraz-led Quetta side.

Rohail Nazir, the upcoming wicket-keeper/batsman, excelled on his PSL debut with a brisk 28-ball knock of 34 (four boundaries) until he attempted to go hard at Dale Steyn, but only managed to find Naseem Shah at mid-off before Asif Ali and Hussain Talat completed the final rites.

Low on confidence in terms of batting collapses after these teams had suffered the humiliation of recording the lowest two totals in this PSL - Quetta mustering 121 in the event's opening game against Karachi Kings and Islamabad usurping that tally by being shot out for 118 versus Peshawar Zalmi - Quetta were looking for improvement on all fronts.

Not for the first time, Quetta were let down by their brittleness at the top of the order. And Tuesday was no different either when Saim Ayub - the emerging pick - failed to get going once...