In the first eliminator clash at the National Stadium in Karachi, Islamabad United squared off against Quetta Gladiators. Choosing to bat first, United got off to a flying start courtesy of openers Alex Hales and Martin Guptill, propelling them to a formidable 46/0 within the initial five overs.
However, the tide turned when Quetta’s Akeal Hosein dismissed Hales in the sixth over, leaving United at 51/1. Despite the setback, Guptill and Agha Salman stabilized the innings with a solid 51-run partnership, steering their team to 99/1 by the 11th over.
Despite facing a flurry of wickets, Islamabad’s batting heavily relied on the partnership between Guptill and Imad Wasim as the game progressed, until an unexpected twist involving Wasim’s footwork.
In the 18th over, Wasim delivered a pinpoint yorker to Guptill, who defended it and aimed for a quick single. However, with an air of confidence, Imad sprinted for the run without noticing Wasim’s swift pursuit from the bowler’s end.
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Despite Imad’s efforts, the bowler outpaced him and cleverly kicked the ball onto the stumps, catching Imad short of the crease. The Quetta supporters were left in awe of Wasim’s exceptional display of intellect and technique, leading social media to shower praise on his extraordinary feat.
