Munro, Azam, Stirling lead United's drubbing of Gladiators

Before this week, Islamabad United had won just 10 of 33 matches batting first, and lost only 6 of 33 while chasing. But the team that most famously goes by the numbers have turned them on their head over the last two games. After they failed to chase 218 against Multan Sultans on Tuesday, they went on to defend a 200-plus total on Thursday, thrashing Quetta Gladiators by 43 runs after a devastating batting performance.

Paul Stirling (58), Colin Munro (72*) and Azam Khan (65) all registered whirlwind half-centuries as United racked up 229, the fourth-highest score in PSL history. Shadab Khan then cleaned up with the ball, taking five wickets for 28 to bundle Sarfaraz Ahmed's side out for 186.

United's all-out attack got them to within 20 runs of an unlikely chase on Tuesday, but batting first here, there went even harder, if possible. Stirling whacking Mohammad Nawaz over cow corner off the second ball was an omen, and with Alex Hales and Munro joining the onslaught, United plundered 81 off the powerplay. They barely seemed to notice that the field had spread out, though, with the scoring continuing unabated across the next eight overs. By this time, Azam, playing against his former side and the one coached by his father, Moin Khan, had joined the attack, and singled Shahid Afridi out for particular punishment.

After United had raced along to 173 in 14 overs, Gladiators somehow found a way to rein them back in, thanks to some brilliant variations by Sohail Tanvir and Naseem Shah. Only 36 came off the next five overs, but with Sarfaraz's side playing just five bowlers, they were just putting off the final Afridi over; he had already conceded 47 in three. Azam bludgeoned him for three more sixes before Afridi finally yorked him, but by then he'd gone for 67. It's the most expensive anyone has ever been in the PSL, and the second-most expensive figures for a T20 spinner in any competition.

Gladiators had for some reason left the free-scoring Will Smeed out of the line-up, opting to play with just three overseas players, and pairing emerging cricketer Abdul Bangalzai with Ahsan Ali up top. The youngster struggled and fell early, and while Ahsan Ali clubbed eight fours and a six en route to a 26-ball fifty, Shadab snared him the very next ball. Despite Ahsan's best efforts, his side were way behind the monstrous asking rate at that point, and the scoreboard pressure saw the United captain run riot. Ben Duckett was undone by a slider before Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Afridi all fell to the legspinner, leaving Gladiators reeling at 110 for 7.

It was left to Nawaz and James Faulkner to keep the scoreline respectable, something they managed through an entertaining 76-run partnership off 32 balls. But while it prevented an absolute bloodbath, United returned to have the last laugh, cleaning up the final three in four balls to condemn Gladiators to a comprehensive defeat.