In a thrilling PSL 2025 match that could have gone either way, Quetta Gladiators edged past Islamabad United in a dramatic finish, with United’s fielders dropping three easy catches in the final over. Hasan Nawaz kept his composure, leading Gladiators to a nail-biting win.
Match Summary:
Quetta Gladiators 159/8 (Hasan 64*, Naseem 2-31, Irshad 2-31) defeated Islamabad United 157/9 (Nawaz 49, Farhan 39, Ashraf 4-25) by two wickets.
The game was full of tension and drama, with both teams experiencing ups and downs before Gladiators held their nerve to clinch victory. The final over saw multiple dropped chances, which gave Gladiators the opening they needed to cross the line.
After opting to bowl first, Gladiators controlled the game and restricted United to a modest 157/9. Despite reducing them to 91/6 by the 13th over, Gladiators allowed United to fight back in the final stages. Faheem Ashraf’s impressive four-wicket haul dismantled the middle order, opening the door for a late recovery.
Mohammad Nawaz emerged as the hero for United, contributing a vital 49 runs in a determined effort that revived his team’s hopes. His knock included five sixes and breathed life into the chase.
Gladiators started their reply strongly, with Finn Allen blasting boundaries during the powerplay. However, his fiery 13-ball innings was cut short by Naseem Shah’s pace. Saud Shakeel followed suit, dismissed cheaply in the third over. Rilee Rossouw attempted to rally the team, but a mix-up with Hasan Nawaz in the tenth over led to a moment of panic, causing the chase to falter.
The game was on a knife-edge, but Hasan Nawaz proved to be the key figure for Gladiators. His composed 64* off 41 balls was a blend of calm and aggression, keeping his side in the hunt while receiving solid support from Mohammad Wasim.
As the match swung back and forth, it all came down to the final over, bowled by Muhammad Shahzad. Hasan was dropped twice in the first two balls—once off Shahzad’s bowling and again by Salman Irshad at short third. Undeterred, he launched a six over long-off on the third ball, and then, on the next delivery, United missed another opportunity as both the keeper and the deep fielder collided and failed to catch a high ball. This allowed the batters to add two more runs.
On the penultimate ball, Hasan sealed the victory with another six, this time over backward square. The win pushed Gladiators to the top of the points table, while United, after five consecutive wins, suffered their third straight defeat.
