By our correspondent
LAHORE: In a gripping 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10, Quetta Gladiators edged past Islamabad United by two wickets, snatching victory in the final over and climbing to the top of the points table.
Chasing a target of 158, Quetta reached the mark with just one ball to spare, finishing on 159 for 8 in 19.5 overs. The star of the night was young batter Hassan Nawaz, who held his nerve with a brilliant unbeaten knock of 64 off 41 balls. His innings proved decisive in a tight contest that went down to the wire.
With this win, Quetta now sits at the top with 11 points, nudging ahead of Islamabad United, who remain second with 10 points. For Islamabad, this was their third consecutive defeat, following earlier losses to Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars — a troubling skid for the defending champions who had previously won five matches. Rilee Rossouw chipped in with 27 runs, while Finn Allen and Mohammad Wasim added 20 and 16 respectively, providing crucial support in the chase.
Earlier in the evening, Quetta had won the toss and put Islamabad in to bat. With regular skipper Shadab Khan sitting out, Salman Ali Agha led United, who posted 158 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Mohammad Nawaz top-scored with 49, and opener Sahibzada Farhan added 39. Kyle Mayers (22), Jason Holder (14) and Haider Ali (10) also contributed, but the middle and lower order faltered.
Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the Quetta bowlers, bagging 4 wickets for just 25 runs and setting up a strong platform for the successful chase. Islamabad will now need to regroup quickly as the playoffs approach, while Quetta continues to build momentum with an eye on the PSL crown.
