All-round Gladiators hand Rawalpindiz their fifth consecutive defeat

Staff Report

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators romped to a 61-run win over Rawalpindiz after an emphatic performance with both bat and ball in the 18th match of the HBL Pakistan Super League here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night. Rawalpindiz, who lost their fifth consecutive game in the tournament, were restricted to 121 in 17.3 overs in pursuit of a 183-run target courtesy two wickets each from Saud Shakeel, Jahandad Khan and Usman Tariq. Earlier, Gladiators were helped to a healthy total with a steady half-century from player of the match Rilee Rossouw and a fiery knock of 39 from Hasan Nawaz. Following his unbeaten six-ball 21 not out on the back of two fours and as many sixes, Jahandad struck on the first ball of the innings removing Rawalpindiz skipper Mohammad Rizwan to help Quetta get off to the best possible start in the defence of the target. Rawalpindiz’ stop-start innings involved three wickets inside the powerplay before they lost seven for 44 after being 72-3 at the halfway mark. Saad Masood’s late hitting in aa 19-ball 31-run knock comprising one four and three sixes took them across the 100-run mark.

Usman Khawaja returned to the HBL PSL after 2021 and was run out for seven, while Yasir Khan fell to Abrar Ahmed for a 14-ball 21 after hitting debutant Khalil Ahmed for a six and two fours in the second over. Daryl Mitchell (30, 32b, 2x4s, 1×6) and Abdullah Fazal (20, 19b, 1×4, 1×6) put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before Usman broke the stand in the 11th over. Left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti, who was playing his second HBL PSL game in nine years, accounted for Sam Billings with Rawalpindiz 82-5 in 11.5 overs. Saud’s two wickets came in the only over he bowled and dismissed Mitchell and Asif Afridi, Usman bagged his second removing Mubasir before Rawalpindiz capitulation was sealed with two more wickets in the 18th over.

Gladiators’ innings was headlined by the second-wicket 87-run stand between Rossouw (53, 42b, 6x4s, 1×6) and Saud (42, 39b, 3x4s). Debutant Ben Sears castled Sam Harper to give Rawalpindiz their first wicket of the day in the fourth over. He later returned to break the partnership dismissing Saud. Hasan Nawaz’ 16-ball 39 included five sixes only and provided them impetus as Rawalpindiz started striking regularly. Jahandad walked in at 156-5 in 18.2 overs and helped his team end the innings on a high taking 14 runs off the last over. Sears ended with three for 41 in his four overs, while Mohammad Amir picked up two wickets. Mubasir dismissed Rossouw for his only wicket.

Brief scores:

Match 18 – Quetta Gladiators beat Rawalpindiz by 61 runs at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi

Quetta Gladiators 182-6, 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 53, Saud Shakeel 42, Hasan Nawaz 39, Jahandad Khan 21 not out; Ben Sears 3-41, Mohammad Amir 2-31) VS Rawalpindiz 121 all out, 17.3 overs (Saad Masood 31, Daryl Mitchell 30, Yasir Khan 22, Abdullah Fazal 20; Saud Shakeel 2-4, Jahandad Khan 2-8, Usman Tariq 2-23)

Player of the match – Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators).