PSL 10: Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United by 2 wickets

Lahore (Web Desk): Quetta Gladiators defeated Islamabad United by two wickets in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 158, Quetta found themselves in a precarious situation, needing 15 runs from the last over. But Islamabad faltered under pressure, and young batter Hasan Nawaz was given multiple chances to make an impact, surviving three straightforward catches in the first four deliveries of the over.

Nawaz capitalized on his good fortune, finishing the game in style with a six, securing a dramatic win for his team with just one ball to spare. He remained not out on 64 off 41 balls, including four sixes and two boundaries, delivering a match-winning performance when it was most needed.

Earlier, Islamabad United posted a challenging total of 157 for 9 on a slightly sluggish pitch. Mohammad Nawaz played a key role in the lower order, contributing a valuable 49 off 34 balls, which included five sixes. Sahibzada Farhan also set the tone with a brisk 39 off 24 balls.

However, Quetta's Faheem Ashraf was the standout bowler, wreaking havoc with a brilliant spell, taking 4 wickets for just 25 runs in three overs.

Quetta's chase was shaky from the start, with captain Saud Shakeel dismissed cheaply. Finn Allen and Rilee Rossouw provided brief stability, but Islamabad's bowlers took regular wickets, pulling the game back in their favor. Mark Chapman, Haseebullah Khan, and Faheem Ashraf all fell in quick succession, leaving Quetta at 7 wickets down with 28 runs still needed from the final three overs.

At this point, Hasan Nawaz took charge, blending calmness with aggression to keep Quetta in the hunt. His ability to rotate strike and punish loose deliveries proved crucial in the tense finale. Mohammad Wasim Jr. also contributed with a handy 16 off 11 balls before he was dismissed by Naseem Shah in the penultimate over.

Islamabad’s undoing, however, lay in their fielding. They dropped five straightforward catches during the match, three of them in the final over alone, which handed Nawaz the opportunity to steer Quetta to victory. What should have been a nervy win for Islamabad turned into a bitter loss, as the pressure seemed to get to them in the dying moments of the game.

Naseem Shah and Salman Irshad were the pick of the bowlers for Islamabad, claiming two wickets each, but their efforts were undermined by the repeated fielding blunders. Despite solid bowling performances from Jason Holder and Mohammad Nawaz, chances slipped away, and Quetta capitalized on the lapses.

With this win, Quetta Gladiators continue their impressive run in PSL 10, further solidifying their position on the points table with 11 points.

Teams

Quetta Gladiators:

Finn Allen, Faheem Ashraf and Mark Chapman , Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Rilee Rossouw , Akeal Hossein, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Saud Shakeel , Khawaja Nafay, Usman Tariq, Haseebullah Khan and Khurram Shahzad, Kyle Jamieson and Hasan Nawaz , Mohammad Zeeshan, Danish Aziz, Kusal Mendis and Sean Abbott .

Islamabad United:

Naseem Shah, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim and Jason Holder , Haider Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Ben Dwarshuis , Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Andries Gous, Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Irshad , Hunain Shah and Saad Masood , Kyle Mayers and Riley Meredith.