Brilliant Nawaz seals playoff berth for Quetta
Hassan Nawaz scored an unbeaten 100 off just 45 balls against Islamabad United. Photo: PCB
Quetta Gladiators secured a thrilling two-wicket victory over Multan Sultans thanks to brilliant Hasan Nawaz to secured top spot in the HBL Pakistan Super League season 10 (PSL10) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a challenging target of 186, the Gladiators got off to a flying start courtesy of Khawaja Nafay. The openers stitched together a quickfire 60-run partnership in the powerplay, laying a strong foundation.
Nafay was the standout performer, bringing up yet another half-century with a flurry of boundaries. His 51 off just 26 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 196.15, kept the required rate in check.
The 77-run opening stand was broken when Shahid Aziz removed Nafay. Soon after, skipper Saud Shakeel fell for a sluggish 18 off 24 balls, leaving Quetta at 81/2 in 8.5 overs.
Sri Lankan batter Avishka Fernando, playing his first PSL 10 match, failed to make an impact and departed for 7, again to Shahid Aziz, reducing the Gladiators to 87/3.
Veteran Sri Lankan Dinesh Chandimal kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Hassan Nawaz, pushing the total past the 100-run mark. Chandimal's short but vital knock of 17 off 10 ended at 116/4, courtesy of Ubaid Shah.
The collapse continued as Danish Aziz was dismissed for a duck by Peter Hatzoglou, and Faheem Ashraf, after contributing 16, fell at a crucial juncture with the score at 159/6 in 17.1 overs.
Mohammad Wasim Jr. was run out for just 1 in the 18th over, intensifying the pressure.
However, Hassan Nawaz stood firm. With 11 runs needed off the final over, the young batter kept his nerve.
He finished the match in style, smashing a six off the last ball to seal the win. Nawaz remained unbeaten on a match-winning 67 off 38 balls, guiding his side home in a nail-biting finish.
Earlier, Multan Sultans, after being put in to bat, started strongly with Yasir Khan hitting back-to-back boundaries in the opening over. However, skipper Mohammad Rizwan was cleaned up by Faheem Ashraf in the second over after scoring just 4, leaving the team at 12/1.
Yasir and Jahanzeib Sultan steadied the innings with a 52-run stand. Jahanzeib scored 25 off 21 before falling to Usman Tariq, who also dismissed Yasir Khan (45 off 25) shortly after, reducing the Sultans to 79/3 in 9 overs.
The Sultans lost momentum in the final overs. Abrar Ahmed dismissed Hatzoglou cheaply, while Aamer Azmat provided a late flourish, striking a big six off Shahzad in the 18th over. Azmat remained unbeaten on 21 off 16.
In the final over, Mohammad Wasim Jr. picked up the wicket of Shahid Aziz, who had scored a brisk 29 off 14 balls. Mohammad Hasnain capped off the innings with a boundary, helping Multan post a competitive total of 185/7.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Holder, Russell return for West Indies
SUPERB PERFORMANCE: Islamabad United all-rounder Jason Holder celebrates after taking another Multan Sultans wicket in HBL PSL match on Wednesday night. PHOTO: PCB Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the T20I squads for the upcoming series against England and Ireland, with big names like Jason Holder and Andre Russell making a return. However, Nicholas Pooran will be rested for the tour following his involvement in the IPL. West Indies will face England in three T20Is immediately after their ODI series at The Oval concludes on Tuesday. Following that, they will head to Ireland for another three-match T20I series, although several players and members of the coaching staffincluding Russellwill be rested for the Ireland leg. Holder last appeared in a T20I for West Indies in February 2024, having missed the World Cup later that year due to injury. Russell's most recent match was against England in Barbados last November, where an ankle injury ruled him out of the remainder of the series. Sherfane Rutherford returns to the squad after missing the Bangladesh series, while Keacy Carty will only feature in the Ireland T20Is, replacing Brandon King who has been granted leave. New Test captain Roston Chase will also depart after the England series to prepare for Australia's upcoming tour, with former West Indies Under-19 player Jyd Goolie receiving his first senior call-up. Ahead of the first Test against Australia starting June 25, West Indies will hold a Test training camp in Barbados from June 13-21. West Indies Men's T20I Squad for England: Shai Hope (captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd. West Indies Men's T20I Squad for Ireland: Shai Hope (captain), Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Jyd Goolie, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.
Express Tribune
29-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Hasan Ali takes maiden five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, credits PCB
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali marked his return to international cricket with a maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals during the first match of the series against Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. Hasan, whose last T20I outing was in May 2024 against Ireland, had been sidelined due to an elbow injury sustained during his County Championship stint in July last year. He then made a sensational comeback in the recently concluded HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, finishing as the joint-second leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets, which earned him a recall to the national squad. In his first match back, Hasan made an immediate impact by dismissing Bangladesh's openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan within his opening overs. He then took two wickets in his third over, removing wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He sealed his five-wicket haul by catching Shoriful Islam at long off in his final over. His performance helped bowl out Bangladesh for 164, securing a 37-run victory for Pakistan in the series opener. Reflecting on his achievement, Hasan described the five-wicket haul as 'truly special' and credited the team's batting for setting a competitive total. 'The plan was straightforward — I just needed to bowl in the right areas,' he said. 'T20 cricket heavily favours batsmen, so developing pace variations becomes crucial. I'm pleased I could execute my variations effectively when it mattered most.' Hasan also expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the medical team for their support during his rehabilitation, calling the process 'boring' but requiring dedication and passion. 'Facing a potentially career-ending injury made me deeply appreciate the PCB and my physio's incredible support,' he added. The win marked a positive start for newly-appointed Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, whose instructions to play a modern and aggressive brand of T20 cricket appeared to be embraced by the team. 'Hesson's philosophy was clear — play modern, aggressive T20 cricket. We executed the fundamentals well, and I'm sure he's satisfied with our performance,' Hasan said. Pakistan will look to build on this momentum in the remainder of the T20I series against Bangladesh.
Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Salman explains Sufiyan's exclusion
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha says Sufiyan Muqeem will feature in future white-ball series for Pakistan. Photo: AFP/File Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha revealed the reason behind left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem's absence from the national squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week announced a 16-member squad for the aforementioned series, which was selected based on the players' performances in the recently concluded HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10. Meanwhile, Muqeem, who represented Peshawar Zalmi in this year's marquee league, had a forgetful campaign as he could only play three matches and took only one wicket at a dismal economy rate of 9.72. The spinner, however, delivered impressive performances for the national team last month on the white-ball tour of New Zealand, where he picked up five wickets in three matches – one T20I and two ODIs. His exclusion drew an outburst from fans, who flocked to social media to express their disapproval. Consequently, Pakistan captain Agha was also asked to share the thought process behind the wrist spinner's snub from the home series during the pre-series press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday. In response, Agha expressed his admiration for Muqeem and assured that he is in their plans for shorter formats before explaining that he was overlooked considering the conditions here, which according to him are more favourable for the pacers. "I personally like Sufyan a lot, and in the upcoming series, he will feature in our shorter formats squads. I think Sufyan will play a crucial role in the white-ball format, and he will win a lot of matches for Pakistan in the future," said Agha. "If we look at the conditions, spinners did not have much success here [Lahore], so a fast bowler is added in his place," he added. It is pertinent to mention that the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium here on May 28, 30 and June 1, respectively. Wasim Jr ruled out Pakistan's fast-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Tuesday. According to the cricket board, the 23-year-old picked up a side strain during the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 and was not able to recover in time. Earlier, sources had suggested that the doctors advised Mohammad Wasim Jr a one-week rest and thus, will undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here. As a result, he has been replaced by Abbas Afridi, who was the joint second leading wicket-taker of the PSL 10 with 17 dismissals in 11 matches at a decent average of 23.52. "Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas Afridi has replaced Mohammad Wasim Jnr in Pakistan's T20I squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh," the PCB said in a statement. "Wasim Jnr picked up a side strain during the HBL PSL and was not able to recover in time." Abbas has thus far represented Pakistan in 20 T20Is and took 33 wickets in his budding career. For the unversed, the three-match T20I series is scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium here on May 28, 30 and June 1. Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk) and Saim Ayub. Series schedule: 28 May – 1st T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 30 May – 2nd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 1 June – 3rd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
