United vs Gladiators, 18th Match at Lahore, PSL, Feb 12 2022 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's it from ESPNcricinfo's live coverage of Match 18 of PSL 2022. Don't forget to join us back on the Super Sunday tomorrow where we're scheduled to have a double-header. We hope you enjoyed our watch. Till next time, it's goodbye and goodnight from Momin Butt and the rest of the crew.

Sarfraz Ahmed is the player of the match. "We were targeting to steady the ship when I was batting with Vince. I want to credit our opening players but I think Umar's inning was the turning point for us. We keep the fighting spirit till the last ball. Nawaz's absence is a setback and we'll miss him a lot, but Afridi and Noor's bowling tonight was really good and we hope they can continue like this through the rest of the tournament."

Shadab Khan: "I think we made a comeback after Roy's start but Umar Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed's innings were the key. At the death, I thought Hasan Ali was the right option to go rather than burdening the young man Zeeshan Zameer. Faheem's finish with the bat was quite brilliant, we try to use our batting depth."

Noaman Khan: "The bowlers are letting the IU down big time. If the other bowlers could bowl half of what Shadab has. This could have been a very different story."

Faizan: "I would still say it was poor captaincy from Shadab. He should have utilized Zeeshan instead of Wasim and Hasan. "

Zia Abbasi: "By this innings, Sarfaraz has proved himself as an enigmatic character who somehow keeps pressing himself and puts lid on his critics."

Woof, it's been another cracking run-chase from Quetta Gladiators. Stick around for the presentations

11.20 PM: That's a quite astonishing innings from the Gladiators skipper to seal the deal for his team. The Men in Purple have hunted down 200-plus totals twice in two matches now and they're very much in the reckoning as far as that top-four finish is concerned. The run-chase, just like in their previous outing, was set up at the top through a blistering half-century by Jason Roy. The Gladiators seemed to be running away with the game before Shadab Khan came into the attack and put a stranglehold. He bowled beautifully, taking 3/25 and was well supported by Liam Dawson through the middle-overs as the United tightened the screws and stemmed the flow of runs. Sarfraz Ahmed struggled to get off to a flyer and he kept losing partners from the other end as the required rate crept up to over 13 runs an over. It was at this time that Umar Akmal turned back the clock with his scintillating ball-striking and injected that impetus at the rear-end. Sarfraz also found his touch and saw his team home with two balls to spare; bringing up a wonderful half-century in the process.

Quetta Gladiators have won by 5 wickets

1 off 3 now

5 needed off 4

6 off 5

7 off 6 now

Right, 8 off 6 now. Sarfraz on strike and Hasan to bowl

9 needed off 7 as James Faulkner comes out

Some cameo that from Umar Akmal

Mohammad Wasim to bowl the penultimate over, 27 runs needed off 12

Aamir: "Welcome back Umar Akmal, that six was some shot, waiting for a straight six"

44 needed off 18