Lahore, (AFP – Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – April 3, 2026) An unbeaten half-century by young pacer Samir Minhas and an all-round performance by captain Shadab Khan helped Islamabad United excel. Quetta The Gladiators have 10 balls to go for their first win Pakistan Super League 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
In a record third wicket partnership of 128 runs off 69 balls for Islamabad United, Samir Minhas scored an unbeaten 82 (48) with eight boundaries and three 6s while Shadab Khan scored 69 (39) featuring five boundaries and four 6s. Shadab also produced the best bowling figures in the match as he took three wickets for 23 runs and was instrumental in restricting the Gladiators to 183-5 from their 20 overs. Shadab was awarded Player of the Match for his all-round math award-winning performance.
Samir Minhas upheld his reputation and smashed his half-century Polish The fans were amazed by his amazing game. Islamabad advanced to fourth place in the standings with three points, slightly ahead of the third-placed team Peshawar Zalmi, who surpasses them in net run rate.
With United 61 for two in 6.5 overs after Abrar struck to remove Devon Conway (18, 19b, 2 x 4s, 1 x 6) in his successive overs, Shadab put together an unbeaten 128-run partnership for the third wicket with Sameer to take their side home.
The pair took some time to settle before a 22-goal score from Tom Curran in the 12th over. Sameer got a boundary on the first ball while Shadab hit a four and a six.
At 113 for two after 13 overs, Shadab and Sameer ran riot, producing 76 runs off the next 5.2 overs, taking their team home comfortably.
Shadab hit Usman Tariq for a six in the 14th over and got 12 runs before hitting another six and a boundary by Ahmed Danial the next over which got him 16 runs.
The duo hit another six and a boundary off Usman in the 13th over in the 16th over, before doing the same to Abrar in the next over, taking 14 runs.
Samir finished the match in style when he hit Ahmed for a six down fine leg in the 19th minute.
Samir excelled with 82 off 48 balls. His highest half-century in all competitions Cricket gameaided by eight fours and three sixes.
Shadab backed up his bowling performance as he hit five fours and four sixes in 39 balls and 69 not out.
Earlier, Quetta Gladiators recovered from a perilous situation thanks to an unbeaten 90-run partnership between Hassan Nawaz and Tom Curran to score 183 for five.
With Quetta 93 for five after 11.5 overs, top scorer Hasan Nawaz and Tom Curran rebuilt the innings with a steady rotation of batting as the duo combined for 16 runs from the next three overs.
The pair then broke the shackles, plundering 21 runs off the 16th over of the innings bowled by Imad Wasim, with Hasan and Curran hitting four and a six each.
The two then plundered 20 points from the penultimate round, before scoring another 11 points from the last to lift their team to the fighting total.
Batting first, captain Saud Shakeel and Shamil Hossain made an explosive start, racing to 50 in 26 balls. Shamil fell for 21 off 15 in the fifth over, after being caught off Salman Ershad’s back delivery.
Saud continued to play fluently, hitting three fours and three sixes in his 42 off 26 before Shadab caught him at backward point through the front edge.
Shadab then brought his side back into contention as he bowled cleanly to Ben McDermott and followed up the next ball by catching debutant Bevon Jacobs and bowling a golden duck.
Khawaja Muhammad Nafi had already fallen to Imad Wasim moments before and in the space of 14 balls, Quetta collapsed from 71 for two to 93 for five.
Grades in brief:
Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore
Quetta Gladiators 183-5, 20 overs (Hassan Nawaz 66 not out, Saud Shakeel 42, Tom Curran 29 not out, Shamil Hussain 21; Shadab Khan 3-23)
Islamabad United 189-2, 18.2 overs (Samir Minhas 82 not out, Shadab Khan 69 not out; Abrar Ahmed 2-29).