Hasan Nawaz’s stellar performance with the bat propelled Quetta Gladiators to a thrilling victory over Islamabad United in the 23rd match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Chasing a target of 158 runs, the Gladiators clinched the win on the penultimate ball of the innings when Nawaz smashed Muhammad Shahzad for a match-winning six.
The Gladiators enjoyed a brisk start as their opening pair, captain Saud Shakeel and Finn Allen, put together 28 runs within the first three overs. However, both openers were dismissed in quick succession. Allen, the more aggressive of the two, scored 20, while Saud managed just 7 off 8 deliveries.
Following the early setbacks, Rilee Rossouw and Nawaz steadied the innings with a crucial 52-run partnership. The duo appeared composed until a mix-up while running between the wickets brought an end to Rossouw’s gritty knock. He departed for 27 off 24 balls, which included four boundaries.
His dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, with the Gladiators losing four wickets in quick succession, slumping to 117/7 by the 16th over.
Nawaz then found valuable support in Mohammad Wasim Jr, adding a vital 26-run partnership. Wasim was dismissed on the last ball of the 19th over, leaving 15 runs required off the final over.
Hasan, now the lone set batter, rode his luck — getting reprieves on the first two deliveries of the final over — before dispatching Shahzad for a six. Although he failed to connect with the fourth delivery, another dropped catch allowed him to steal two crucial runs.
He eventually made the most of his lucky breaks by launching Shahzad over deep backward square for a six, sealing a dramatic victory for the Gladiators.
Nawaz was the standout performer with an unbeaten 64 off 41 balls, including two fours and four sixes.
For Islamabad United, Naseem Shah and Salman Irshad each picked up two wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz, Jason Holder, and Salman Ali Agha claimed one apiece.
Earlier in the match, Islamabad United set a target of 158 runs for Quetta Gladiators.
Put in to bat first, the defending champions accumulated 157/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
The holders, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as their new opening pair of Sahibzada Farhan and Kyle Mayers laid a solid foundation with a brisk 58-run partnership.
The opening stand was broken in the sixth over when Abrar Ahmed provided the Gladiators with a much-needed breakthrough by cleaning up Mayers, who scored 22 off 17 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.
Faheem then inflicted two more blows to the United’s batting effort as he dismissed Colin Munro (nine) and stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha (zero) in his first over.
United suffered another significant blow when set batter Sahibzada Farhan fell victim to Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel.
He remained the top-scorer for the United with a 24-ball 39, laced with two fours and four sixes.
With United struggling at 77/4 in 9.5 overs, Mohammad Nawaz and Andries Gous attempted to anchor the innings but could only manage a 14-run partnership as Faheem struck twice again, dismissing the wicketkeeper batter and Muhammad Shahzad.
These back-to-back dismissals further reduced the United to 91/6 in 13 overs.
Following the slump, Haider Ali joined Mohammad Nawaz in the middle, and together they forged a valiant 39-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Nawaz was the main aggressor in the stand, while Haider played a supportive role with his eight-ball 10 before falling victim to Khurram Shahzad in the 18th over.
The left-handed batter, on the other hand, was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson in the final over after top-scoring for the United with a 34-ball 49, comprising one four and five sixes.
He was also involved in a crucial 26-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Jason Holder, who contributed an unbeaten 14 off 11 deliveries.
Faheem Ashraf was the standout bowler for the Gladiators, taking an impressive four wickets for just 25 runs in his three overs. He received support from Khurram, Abrar, Saud, and Jamieson, who each claimed one wicket.
