LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators posted a competitive total in their third match of PSL 11 against Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, powered by a fluent half-century from Hassan Nawaz and key contributions from captain Saud Shakeel and Tom Curran.
After opting to bat first, Quetta finished on 183-5 in their 20 overs, despite a brisk start from openers Shamyl Hussain and Saud Shakeel. The pair took on the bowling early, finding regular boundaries and stitching together a 50-run opening partnership.
The stand was broken in the fifth over when Salman Irshad removed Shamyl for 21 off 15 balls, which included one four and two sixes. Khawaja Nafay then joined Shakeel, and the duo looked set before Shadab Khan dismissed the skipper for a quickfire 42 off 26 deliveries, featuring three fours and three sixes, with the score at 71-2.
Hassan Nawaz and Tom Curran then rebuilt the innings with a crucial partnership, guiding the team past the 100-run mark. Nawaz accelerated in the 16th over, smashing 21 runs off Imad Wasim, which shifted the momentum in Quetta’s favour.
The pair added 50 runs together and maintained the scoring rate in the closing stages. Nawaz reached his fifth PSL fifty and remained unbeaten on 66 from 36 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes, while Curran chipped in with 29 off 22 deliveries to help Quetta post 183-5.
