Shehzad, Fawad seal top two berth for Quetta

Scorecard & ball-by-ball clips: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United, Match 26, Abu Dhabi

Quetta Gladiators confirmed a top two spot with a 43-run emphatic win over Islamabad United in the 26th match of the 2019 Pakistan Super League.

The victory had two stars, Ahmed Shehzad (73) helped Quetta post a total of 180-9 before Fawad Ahmed (3-26) and other bowlers restricted Islamabad to 137-9.

Chasing a target of 181, Islamabad United were kept in the game by Luke Ronchi who smashed 64 off 43 balls. But once he departed in the 15th over, it all went downhill from there for the defending champions. His opening partner Cameron Delport (25) and Samit Patel (14) were the only two batsmen to cross double figures.

Delport and Ronchi added 62 runs for the first-wicket partnership and were looking to accelerate before Fawad Ahmed struck twice in the ninth over to do the early damage. Mohammad Nawaz soon dismissed Asif Ali for a duck to leave Islamabad's chase in disarray. Ronchi kept going and reached his third fifty of the season before he became the third victim of Fawad Ahmed.

Islamabad were reduced from 109-3 in 14.3 overs to 137-9 in 20.

Mohammad Hasnain and Sohail Tanvir shared two wickets each.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad struck his second fifty of the season to power Quetta to a total of 180-9. After losing Shane Watson early in the piece, Shehzad shared partnership with Azam Khan (12), Rilee Rossouw (23) and Umar Akmal (27) to keep up the pace. But an anti-climax towards the end of innings saw Quetta lose five wickets for just three runs 14 balls, reducing from 162-4 in 17 overs to 165-9 in 19.2. But Mohammad Nawaz smashed a six and a boundary to shift the momentum towards his side once again.

Faheem Ashraf finished with the figures of four for 18 in three overs.

Ahmed Shehzad was adjudged the man of the match for his brilliant knock.