Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz unleashed a batting onslaught for the ages, hammering centuries in Quetta Gladiators’ commanding 109-run victory over Islamabad United — a record-shattering night in Match 26 of PSL X at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Batting first, Quetta posted 263 for 3, the highest team total in PSL history, surpassing Multan Sultans’ 262 at the same venue in 2023. Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz also etched their names into the record books by becoming the first pair to score centuries in the same PSL innings.
The duo came together at 60 for 2 after early setbacks, but turned the game on its head with a blistering 134-run partnership off just 61 balls. Rossouw, who registered his third HBL PSL ton, bludgeoned 14 fours and six sixes in a 46-ball 104, reaching his fifty in 26 deliveries.
Hasan Nawaz, 22, remained unbeaten on exactly 100 from 45 balls, hitting four boundaries and nine towering sixes. He brought up his century in dramatic fashion, striking a four off the final ball of the innings. Hasan’s onslaught included 28 runs off a single over from Naseem Shah — three sixes and a four — in the penultimate over.
The pair’s destruction was relentless: 160 runs came in the last 10 overs, with Nawaz, Rossouw and Mark Chapman (13 not out off 8) combining to brutalise Islamabad’s bowling. Mohammad Nawaz was taken for 21 in the 12th over, while Jason Holder conceded 20 in the 13th.
In response, Islamabad United crumbled to 68 for 8 in just nine overs, with Mohammad Amir spearheading the attack with a sensational spell of 3 for 6. Though Imad Wasim (56 off 41) and Ben Dwarshuis (31 off 24) added 55 for the ninth wicket to delay the inevitable, Islamabad were eventually bowled out for 154 in 19.3 overs.
Mohammad Wasim Jnr (2-28) and Abrar Ahmed (2-17) struck at crucial moments, while Faheem Ashraf and Khurram Shahzad picked up a wicket apiece. Imad and Dwarshuis’ late resistance helped Islamabad avoid what would have been the largest defeat margin in PSL history (120 runs).
With this result, Quetta Gladiators continue their push for a playoff spot, while Islamabad United face a must-win clash against Karachi Kings on Saturday to stay in contention.
Scores in brief:
Match 26 – Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United by 109 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Quetta Gladiators: 263-3 in 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 104, Hasan Nawaz 100*, Saud Shakeel 23)
Islamabad United: 154 all out in 19.3 overs (Imad Wasim 56, Ben Dwarshuis 31; Mohammad Amir 3-6, Abrar Ahmed 2-17, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-28)
Player of the Match: Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators)
Thursday’s Fixture: Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – 8:00 PM PKT
Leave a Reply