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Billings' unbeaten 78 takes Islamabad United to third position

by Sandeep Shivam Thursday 16 February 2017

Sam Billings played a responsible knock in the chase

©REUTERS

Islamabad United 149-5 (Billings 78no) beat
Quetta Gladiators 148-6 (Shafiq 45) by five wickets
Seventh match, Pakistan Super League, Sharjah

Sam Billings scored an unbeaten 78 as Islamabad United chased down 149 against Quetta Gladiators in the final over with five wickets in hand in Sharjah to get their Pakistan Super League campaign back on track.

Islamabad United won the toss and elected to field first. Ahmed Shehzad (26) started the innings with three boundaries and a six in the first four overs to take Quetta Gladiators to 35 for naught.

Mohammad Sami (2-28) struck twice in his first two deliveries in the fifth over to remove Shehzad and Kevin Pietersen (0) as Quetta Gladiators managed 44 for two in the powerplay.

The innings lost momentum as Rilee Rossouw (7) struggled to get going and was eventually dismissed in the 10th over by Shane Watson (2-22), who also castled Shafiq in the 16th over.

The wickets continued to tumble for Quetta Gladiators following which knocks from Mahmudullah (29 not out) and Thisara Perera (27) helped them post 148 for six in the 20 overs.

In the chase, Billings (78 not out) smashed five boundaries in the powerplay to take them to 40 runs but Islamabad lost Dwayne Smith (10) in the sixth over.

Mohammad Nawaz (2-18), who removed Smith, also accounted for Brad Haddin (6) in his next over while Hasan Khan (1-24) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (10) leaving Islamabad in trouble at 72 for three.

Billings and Watson (36) brought the innings on track especially the former Australian all-rounder, who looked dangerous with four boundaries and two sixes in his knock. Billings reached his fifty off 36 deliveries.

In the 18th over, Watson plundered Perera (1-40) for two boundaries and a six but was also dismissed in the same over but Billings ensured, he saw Islamabad through in 19.1 overs with five wickets in hand.