Faheem Ashraf’s four-wicket haul and Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten 64 powered Quetta Gladiators to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Islamabad United, as they chased down a 158-run target in 19.5 overs in the 23rd match of HBL PSL X at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Saturday night.

By PakPassion Staff (May 03, 2025)

Quetta started strongly with 28 runs in 2.5 overs but lost captain Saud Shakeel at the end of the third over and Finn Allen (20 off 13) three balls later. Rilee Rossouw (27 off 24) and Hasan Nawaz then steadied the innings with a 52-run partnership before Rossouw was run out with the score at 80 in the 10th over.

A batting collapse followed after Nawaz dismissed Mark Chapman, leaving Quetta at 117-7 in 16 overs. Mohammad Wasim Jnr (16 off 11) added two boundaries and supported Hasan in an 18-ball, 26-run partnership before falling to Naseem Shah in the penultimate over.

Player of the match Hasan Nawaz, who benefited from three dropped catches in the last over, struck two sixes off Muhammad Shahzad to seal the win, finishing on 64 not out from 41 balls with two fours and four sixes.

Earlier, United’s openers Kyle Mayers (22 off 17) and Sahibzada Farhan gave them a rapid start, reaching 50 without loss in 4.5 overs. Abrar Ahmed removed Mayers in the sixth over, and Faheem Ashraf struck twice in the ninth to dismiss Colin Munro and stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha. Saud Shakeel then took out the in-form Farhan (39 off 24), and Faheem picked up two more wickets in the 13th over, ending with figures of 4-25.

Haider Ali (10 off 8) and Jason Holder (14* off 11) supported Mohammad Nawaz, who top-scored with a 34-ball 49, as Islamabad finished on 157-9 in 20 overs.