RAWALPINDI: Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten 67 off 38 balls, studded with six towering sixes, powered Quetta Gladiators to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Multan Sultans in the HBL Pakistan Super League dead-rubber at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing 186, Gladiators sealed the chase on the final ball, finishing at 190-8 to claim the top spot in the points table.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Multan Sultans posted 185-7, driven by Yasir Khan’s fiery 45 off 25 balls, packed with six fours and two sixes.

Yasir’s aggressive strokeplay set a strong foundation, but his lbw dismissal to spinner Usman Tariq in the ninth over slowed the momentum. Jahanzaib Sultan contributed 25 off 21, while Tayyab Tahir’s 36 off 24, including three sixes, kept the innings on track.

Regular wickets prevented Sultans from breaking free, with Usman’s 3-32 proving decisive, dismissing Yasir, Jahanzaib, and Tayyab.

Shahid Aziz’s explosive 29 off 14, featuring two sixes, and Mohammad Amir Barki’s unbeaten 21 provided a late flourish.

Mohammad Hasnain’s four off the final ball added crucial runs, ensuring a competitive total despite Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Wasim’s solitary wickets.

Quetta Gladiators’ chase began with a blaze, as Khawaja Nafay’s scintillating 51 off 26 balls, laced with five fours and four sixes, propelled them to 70-0 in seven overs alongside captain Saud Shakeel, who scored 18.

Shahid’s double strike, removing Nafay and Saud in quick succession, tilted the balance back to Sultans. Hasan, however, took charge with calculated aggression, particularly against spinners.

A 17-run over off Hasnain in the 11th, featuring Dinesh Chandimal’s fortuitous six and two fours, reignited the chase. Chandimal’s dismissal for 17 and Danish

Aziz’s duck increased the pressure, but Hasan’s composure kept Gladiators in contention.

With 11 runs needed off the final over, bowled by Hasnain, Nawaz survived a dropped catch by Mohammad Rizwan off a mistimed pull shot. Undeterred, he smashed a towering six over long-off on the fourth ball, reducing the equation to five runs off two.

A single on the fifth led to Abrar Ahmed’s run-out, leaving two runs required off the final delivery. Hasan, cool under pressure, lofted a low full toss over long-on for a flat six, triggering wild celebrations.

Shahidwas Sultans’ standout bowler with 3-29, while Hasnain’s 1-45 and Ubaid Shah’s 1-33 couldn’t stop Hasan’s onslaught. Peter Hatzoglou and Dilshan Madushanka also bowled tightly but went wicket-less.

SCOREBOARD

MULTAN SULTANS:

Yasir Khan lbw b Usman 45

Mohammad Rizwan b Faheem 4

Jahanzaib Sultan c Faheem b Usman 25

Tayyab Tahir c Danish b Usman 36

Hamayun Altaf c Hasan b Khurram 16

Muhammad Amir Barki not out 21

Peter Hatzoglou c Nafay b Abrar 1

Shahid Aziz c Hasan b Wasim 29

Mohammad Hasnain not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 185

DID NOT BAT: Ubaid Shah, Dilshan Madushanka

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-12 (Rizwan), 2-64 (Jahanzaib), 3-79 (Yasir), 4-120 (Hamayun), 5-136 (Tayyab), 6-146 (Hatzoglou), 7-181 (Shahid)

BOWLING: Khurram 4-0-43-1, Faheem 3-0-35-1, Abrar 4-0-38-1, Wasim 4-0-26-1 (1w), Usman 4-0-32-3 (2w), Danish 1-0-10-0

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Saud Shakeel b Hasnain 18

Khawaja Nafay b Shahid 51

Avishka Fernando c Amir b Shahid 7

Hasan Nawaz not out 67

Dinesh Chandimal c Tayyab b Ubaid 17

Danish Aziz b Hatzoglou 0

Faheem Ashraf c Jahanzaib b Shahid 16

Mohammad Wasim run out 1

Abrar Ahmed run out 2

Khurram Shahzad not out 0

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-5, W-3) 11

TOTAL (for eight wickets, 20 overs) 190

DID NOT BAT: Usman Tariq

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-77 (Nafay), 2-81 (Saud), 3-87 (Fernando), 4-116 (Chandimal), 5-123 (Danish), 6-159 (Faheem), 7-161 (Wasim), 8-184 (Abrar)

BOWLING: Madushanka 4-0-41-0, Hasnain 4-0-45-1 (1w), Ubaid 4-0-33-1, Hatzoglou 4-0-34-1 (2w), Shahid 4-0-29-3

RESULT: Quetta Gladiators won by two wickets.

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Hasan Nawaz

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2025