Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators, PSL Eliminator 1 Tips & Prediction – Do-or-Die Encounter Will Bring The Best Out Of United And Gladiators

The PSL has come alive, even more so at the fag end of the group stages. It served up three last-ball thrillers back-to-back, including one involving the Quetta Gladiators, who take on Islamabad United in a winner-takes-all contest.

Both teams know there will be no second chances when they take on each other in Eliminator-1 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The winner will then play the loser of the Qualifier between Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi. So, to cut a long story short, this is effectively a quarter-final fixture for United and Gladiators.

The Gladiators can’t complain. They had an opportunity to finish in the top two and earn a direct passage to the final. A win over Multan Sultans in their final league game would’ve helped those aspirations, but they came up with one of their most horrific displays with the bat at an inopportune moment.

Whatever could go wrong went wrong. They conceded 185 on a surface where 160 was perhaps par and then stumbled to 47 for 4 just after the Powerplay. You can’t win too many games from there on unless there’s on freakish performance from nowhere. Unfortunately, the Gladiators didn’t have that and were bowled out for 106 in 15.5 overs. The result of that loss is them just about squeezing into the playoffs.

There’s nothing like the confidence gained from a run chase where no one gives you a chance. When toppers Sultans walloped 228 for 4, United were staring at elimination. It’s as if their worst nightmare had come true. But they found heroes in Colin Munro and Shadab Khan. Munro smashed 84 off 40, and Shadab made 54 off 31.

These contributions may have yet not been enough if not for their lower-order depth. Imad Wasim chipped in with an unbeaten 30 to help pull off a stunning win from nowhere. It gave them a playoff berth that they didn’t think was possible. That confidence is what will stand them in good stead in the Eliminator.

On a flat Karachi deck, the better bowling side will have an advantage. This is where Gladiators could come up trumps.

Jason Roy, as your captain, could help you get some valuable points. He started the tournament with a bruising 75 against Peshawar Zalmi and has crossed fifty just once since then, but even through his short knocks, there have been signs that he’s been striking the ball really well. Because he hasn’t scored runs, it’s likely he won’t be a hot pick. But the law of averages points to one big knock around the corner. Maybe it could be in this game.