KARACHI, April 10 – Quetta Gladiators registered a commanding 61-run victory over Rawalpindiz in the 18th match of the Pakistan Super League at the National Bank Stadium on Friday, powered by a strong all-round performance.
Chasing a challenging target of 183, Rawalpindiz were bowled out for 121 in 17.3 overs after a dramatic collapse triggered by early wickets and sustained bowling pressure.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for a golden duck on the first ball, setting the tone for a troubled innings. Opener Yasir Khan attempted to counterattack, scoring 22, but wickets at regular intervals kept the chasing side under pressure.
A brief 33-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell (30) and Abdullah Fazal (20) offered some resistance before Quetta’s bowlers regained control. Saud Shakeel struck twice in quick succession, removing Mitchell and Sam Billings to derail the chase.
Rawalpindiz’s innings unraveled rapidly thereafter, with Saud Shakeel, Usman Tariq and Jahandad Khan claiming two wickets each to seal a comfortable victory.
Earlier, Quetta Gladiators posted 182-6 in their allotted 20 overs after being put in to bat. Rilee Rossouw led the scoring with a composed 53 off 42 balls, including six boundaries and a six.
He shared a crucial 87-run second-wicket partnership with captain Saud Shakeel, who contributed 42 off 39 deliveries, stabilizing the innings after a cautious start.
In the closing overs, Hassan Nawaz provided a late surge with an aggressive 39 off just 16 balls, smashing five sixes to push the total to a competitive level.
For Rawalpindiz, Ben Sears was the standout bowler, taking three wickets, but lacked support from the rest of the attack.
The win strengthens Quetta Gladiators’ position in the tournament standings, while Rawalpindiz will need to regroup quickly to keep their playoff hopes alive in the ongoing PSL season.