Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United: Hasan Nawaz Guides Quetta to Nail-Biting 2-Wicket Victory

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Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United: In a match that had it all – tumbling wickets, soaring sixes, and a last-over thriller – Quetta Gladiators kept their Pakistan Super League 2025 playoff hopes alive with a sensational two-wicket win over Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

With just one ball to spare, it was the young sensation Hasan Nawaz who held his nerve under pressure, steering Quetta to 159/8 in response to Islamabad’s 157/9. The night belonged to Hasan Nawaz, who blazed his way to a stunning unbeaten 64 off 41 balls.

Guiding his team out of troubled waters after a mid-innings collapse. The 20-year-old displayed maturity beyond his years, blending power with poise, and rightly earned the Player of the Match accolade for his match-winning knock.

Match Summary: QG vs IU, PSL 2025 Match

Match: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United, 23rd Match

Toss: Islamabad United won the toss and elected to bat first.

Islamabad United: 157/9 (20 overs)

Quetta Gladiators: 159/8 (19.5 overs)

Result: Quetta Gladiators won by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

Player of the Match: Hasan Nawaz for his unbeaten 64 off 41 balls

Match Highlights:

Islamabad United Innings:

• Sahibzada Farhan scored a quick 39 off 24 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.
• Kyle Mayers added 22 off 17 before falling to Abrar Ahmed.
• Mohammad Nawaz top-scored with a crucial 49 off 34 balls (1 four, 5 sixes).
• Faheem Ashraf starred with the ball for Quetta, taking 4 wickets for 25 runs.
• Islamabad lost momentum after middle-order collapses and ended on 157/9.

Quetta Gladiators Bowling:

• Faheem Ashraf picked 4/25 in 3 overs, leading the attack.
• Abrar Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Khurram Shahzad, and Saud Shakeel took one wicket each.
• Quetta's bowlers maintained control and consistently took wickets.

Quetta Gladiators Innings:

• Finn Allen smashed 20 off 13 balls for a solid start.
• Rilee Rossouw added 27 off 24 before getting run out.
• Hasan Nawaz anchored the chase with a brilliant 64* off 41 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes).
• Mohammad Wasim contributed a key 16 off 11 late in the chase.
• Gladiators chased down the target with one ball to spare in a thrilling finish.

Islamabad United Bowling:

• Naseem Shah and Salman Irshad picked up 2 wickets each.
• Jason Holder, Mohammad Nawaz, and Agha Salman took one wicket apiece.
• Holder proved expensive, conceding 40 runs in his 4 overs.

Islamabad’s Inning – A Tale of Missed Momentum

Put into bat, Islamabad United started brightly with Sahibzada Farhan (39 off 24) and Kyle Mayers (22 off 17) setting the tone early. Farhan, in particular, looked dangerous, striking four and six with finesse. But the introduction of spin slowed things down. Abrar Ahmed and Saud Shakeel tightened the screws, removing both openers inside the powerplay.

The innings unravelled when Faheem Ashraf struck a triple blow, removing Colin Munro (9), skipper Agha Salman (0), and wicketkeeper Gous (8) in quick succession. The middle order crumbled under pressure, and only a counter-attacking 49 from Mohammad Nawaz kept United afloat. His 34-ball knock, laced with five towering sixes, added a much-needed flourish in the death overs.

However, Quetta’s bowling remained disciplined. Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the lot, finishing with figures of 4/25, while Abrar and Jamieson chipped in with one wicket apiece. Islamabad stuttered to 157/9 at the end of their 20 overs – a total that seemed par, but not unassailable.

Quetta’s Chase – A Nervy Rollercoaster

The chase began with a jolt as captain Saud Shakeel (7) and explosive Kiwi Finn Allen (20) fell in quick succession. Rilee Rossouw (27 off 24) added some stability, but a brilliant direct hit saw him run out just as he looked settled. The Gladiators were soon in deep trouble at 84/4, with Islamabad sniffing victory.

But this is where Hasan Nawaz took centre stage. Calm and calculated, the youngster unleashed his range of strokes – a ramp over fine leg here, a swivel-pulled six there – keeping the scoreboard ticking while wickets fell around him. His ability to rotate strike while dispatching the bad balls for boundaries kept Quetta in the hunt.

The late drama intensified when Mohammad Wasim Jr. (16 off 11) provided a handy cameo but fell with 15 still needed from 7 balls. The equation was reduced to six runs off the final over. Hasan Nawaz ensured the job was finished with a boundary and a couple of nerveless singles, sealing a dramatic win with one ball to spare.

United’s Bowling – Spirited but Short

Islamabad’s bowlers gave it everything in defence of their modest total. Naseem Shah (2/31) and Salman Irshad (2/31) struck timely blows, while Mohammad Nawaz (1/20) kept things tight in the middle overs. Jason Holder’s expensive spell (1/40) eventually proved costly, as his penultimate over leaked vital runs.

Despite dragging the game deep and fighting until the last over, Islamabad simply didn’t have enough on the board, and Hasan Nawaz’s heroics proved too hot to handle.

As the PSL caravan rolls on, this thrilling contest will surely go down as one of the most gripping encounters of the 2025 season. Quetta’s nerves of steel, Islamabad’s spirited fightback, and a young star shining bright – this was T20 drama at its finest.