Quetta Gladiators crushed Islamabad United by a massive margin of 109 runs in the 26th match of PSL X at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Batting first, Quetta Gladiators set a daunting total of 263 runs for 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was powered by spectacular centuries from Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz, both of whom displayed explosive batting prowess.
Rossouw blazed his way to 104 runs off just 46 balls, smashing 14 fours and 6 sixes, while Nawaz remained unbeaten on 100 from 45 deliveries, hammering 4 fours and 9 sixes.
In response, Islamabad United faltered under the pressure of the massive chase and were bowled out for 154 runs in the final over.
All-rounder Imad Wasim was the lone fighter with a valiant half-century, but his effort went in vain.
Ben Dwarshuis contributed 31 runs, while Mohammad Shehzad scored 24.
The rest of the batting lineup crumbled quickly, with Sahibzada Farhan dismissed for just 1 run and captain Agha Salman managing only 6.
Quetta’s bowlers maintained their grip throughout the innings.
Mohammad Amir led the attack with three wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Aamer Yamin (Wasim Jr.) took two wickets each, sealing a comprehensive victory.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Galdiators' batsmen exploited Islamabad's bowling weakness fully and piled up the highest PSL total of 263.
Gladiators accumulated the total in their allotted 20 overs for the loss of only three wickets, courtesy of a marathon 134-run partnership between centurions Rossouw and Nawaz.
Quetta Gladiators got off to a shaky start to their innings as their opening pair of Saud Shakeel and Finn Allen (five) put together 24 runs until the latter got run out in the third over.
Shakeel then shared a brisk 36-run partnership with Rossouw until falling victim to Naseem Shah in the last over of the batting powerplay.
The skipper made 23 off 18 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.
Following his dismissal, Rossouw joined forces with Hasan, and together they steered Gladiators into a commanding position by adding 134 runs for the second wicket.
Rossouw, who was the core aggressor of the crucial stand, was eventually dismissed by Imad Wasim in the 16th over when the Gladiators were nearing the 200-run mark.
The South African batter top-scored for the Gladiators with a 46-ball 104, laced with 20 boundaries, including six sixes.
Nawaz, on the other hand, batted until the end and made a significant contribution with an unbeaten 100 off 45 deliveries, studded with nine fours and four sixes.
The middle-order batter was involved in another crucial partnership for the Gladiators when he added 69 runs for the fourth wicket with Mark Chapman, who made 13 not out from eight deliveries.
For United, Imad Wasim and Naseem Shah could pick up a wicket apiece.
Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Mark Chapman, Rilee Rossouw, Kusal Mendis (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Faheem Ashraf, Khurram Shahzad, Fin Allen
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Mark Chapman, Rilee Rossouw, Kusal Mendis (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Faheem Ashraf, Khurram Shahzad, Fin Allen