Hassan Nawaz's fifty and Faheem Ashraf's four-for helped Quetta Gladiators to secure a thrilling two-wicket victory over Islamabad United in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Saturday.
This defeat marks Islamabad's third consecutive loss in the tournament.
Chasing a target of 158, Quetta reached the mark with just one ball to spare, thanks to a composed, unbeaten 64-run innings by Hassan Nawaz.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Quetta's bowlers managed to restrict Islamabad to 157 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Mohammad Nawaz top-scored for Islamabad with 49 runs, while Sahibzada Farhan contributed a brisk 39 off 24 balls.
Faheem Ashraf was the standout bowler for Quetta, claiming four wickets for 25 runs in his three overs.
In response, Quetta's chase was anchored by Hasan Nawaz, who remained not out on 64. He found support from Rilee Rossouw (27 runs) and Finn Allen (20 runs).
Despite a middle-order collapse, Nawaz's steady innings ensured Quetta crossed the finish line.
Islamabad's bowlers, including Naseem Shah and Salman Irshad, took two wickets each, but their efforts fell short.
A critical moment came in the final overs when Islamabad dropped three catches, providing Quetta the opportunity to capitalize and secure the win.
This victory propels Quetta Gladiators to the top of the PSL X points table, overtaking Islamabad United.
Islamabad, on the other hand, faces mounting pressure after suffering their third consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Nawaz, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Mark Chapman, Rilee Rossouw, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Faheem Ashraf, Khurram Shahzad, Finn Allen
Islamabad United: Kyle Mayers, Sahibzada Farhan, Colin Munro, Salman Ali Agha (c), Andries Gous (wk), Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Shahzad, Naseem Shah, Salman Irshad