Quetta Gladiators posted a 184-run target for Islamabad United powered by Hasan Nawaz’s half-century in the ninth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first, the Gladiators reached 183-5 in their allotted 20 overs, despite an explosive start from their opening pair, Shamyl Hussain and Saud Shakeel.
The duo attacked Islamabad United’s bowling from the outset, finding boundaries at regular intervals and putting on a 50-run opening stand.
The partnership was broken in the fifth over when pacer Salman Irshad dismissed Shamyl Hussain for 21 off 15 balls, which included one four and two sixes.
Khawaja Nafay then joined Shakeel to form a promising partnership, but Shadab Khan struck to remove the skipper for a brisk 42 off 26 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes, leaving the Gladiators at 71-2 in 8.1 overs.
Runs continued to flow for Quetta, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Imad Wasim claimed Khawaja Nafay for 18 off 14 balls, which included two fours and a six.
Shadab Khan struck again in the 12th over, first dismissing wicketkeeper-batter Ben McDermott for three off six balls and then sending back Bevon Jacobs for a first-ball duck, leaving the Gladiators in trouble at 93-5.
Hassan Nawaz and Tom Curran then steadied the innings with a crucial partnership, adding valuable runs and helping the team surpass the 100-run mark.
Quetta gained momentum in the 16th over as Nawaz smashed 21 runs off Imad Wasim’s over, putting the team in a strong position. The duo shared a 50-run stand and continued to score at a brisk pace in the final overs.
Nawaz was in top form, hitting boundaries consistently to raise his bat for his fifth PSL half-century. The innings concluded with Quetta Gladiators posting a competitive total of 183-5.
Nawaz remained unbeaten on 64 off 35 balls, striking six fours and three sixes, while Curran contributed 29 off 22 deliveries, including two fours and a six.
Shadab Khan was Islamabad United’s standout bowler, registering figures of 3/23 in four overs, while Imad Wasim and Salman Irshad contributed one wicket each.
