Summary Rilee Rossouw’s half-century and Hasan Nawaz’s late surge steer Quetta Gladiators to a dominant 61-run victory over Rawalpindiz in PSL 11.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 continued to deliver high-intensity cricket as Quetta Gladiators secured a commanding 61-run victory over Rawalpindiz in the 18th match at National Bank Stadium on Friday.
A composed batting display followed by disciplined bowling ensured a comprehensive result in favour of the Gladiators.
Put in to bat first, Quetta posted an imposing 182 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, overcoming an early setback to build momentum through a crucial middle-order partnership and a late flourish. The total proved more than sufficient as Rawalpindiz faltered under pressure in their pursuit.
The Gladiators’ innings began on a cautious note, with opener Sam Harper dismissed for eight in the fourth over, leaving the side at 22 for 1. The early breakthrough, however, only set the stage for a measured recovery led by Rilee Rossouw and captain Saud Shakeel.
The pair stitched together a vital 87-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilising the innings and laying a solid foundation. Rossouw played the anchor role to perfection, scoring a fluent 53 off 42 deliveries, striking six fours and a six. Shakeel complemented him with a composed 42 from 39 balls, ensuring the scoreboard continued to tick steadily.
Rossouw’s departure in the 15th over, courtesy of Mubasir Khan, triggered a brief slowdown. Shakeel followed soon after, falling to Ben Sears, as Quetta slipped to 156 for 6 in the 17th over after further setbacks inflicted by Mohammad Amir, who removed Khawaja Nafay and Bevon Jacobs in quick succession.
The closing stages of the innings, however, swung decisively in Quetta’s favour, driven by an explosive cameo from Hasan Nawaz. The right-hander unleashed a barrage of power-hitting, scoring 39 off just 16 balls, including five towering sixes, providing the innings with a crucial late boost.
He was ably supported by Jahandad Khan, who added an unbeaten 21 from only six deliveries, striking two fours and two sixes in a rapid finish. Their late acceleration lifted Quetta to a formidable total, well beyond par on the surface.
For Rawalpindiz, Sears stood out with the ball, claiming three wickets for 41 runs in his four overs. Amir contributed with two wickets, while Mubasir Khan picked up one.
Chasing 183 for victory, Rawalpindiz struggled to build momentum against a disciplined bowling attack. Regular wickets disrupted their chase, preventing any meaningful partnerships from taking shape. Despite featuring experienced names such as captain Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khawaja and Daryl Mitchell, the batting line-up failed to cope with the mounting required rate.
The Gladiators’ bowlers maintained tight lines and lengths, capitalising on scoreboard pressure to restrict Rawalpindiz effectively. The chase ultimately folded well short of the target, sealing a comprehensive victory margin of 61 runs.
Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Sam Harper, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, Bevon Jacobs, Rilee Rossouw, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Khalil Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.
Rawalpindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Usman Khawaja, Yasir Khan, Abdullah Fazal, Mubasir Khan, Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Saad Masood, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Amir and Ben Sears.
