Rossouw, Hasan hit centuries as Quetta crush Islamabad by 109 runs to seal playoff spot

Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz struck brilliant centuries while Mohammad Amir tore through the top order as Quetta Gladiators stormed into the HBL PSL X playoffs with a dominant 109-run win over Islamabad United at the Pindi Stadium on Wednesday night.

Rossouw scored 104 and Hasan hammered an unbeaten 100 as Quetta posted a HBL PSL record of 263-3 in 20 overs.

Amir then claimed 3-6 in just two overs to dismantle United’s top order. Islamabad were bowled out for 154 in 19.3 overs, with Imad Wasim top-scoring with 56.

It was Quetta’s sixth win, taking them to 13 points and confirming their place in the top four, with one game left.

Chasing a daunting target, United, missing captain Shadab Khan due to a groin injury, crumbled early. Amir struck in his first over, removing Kyle Mayers (0) and Sahibzada Farhan (1), then returned to dismiss Salman Ali Agha (6), reducing United to 19-3.

The collapse continued with Mohammad Shahzad falling for a 13-ball 24 to Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Mohammad Nawaz dismissed by Khurram Shahzad for 10, leaving United reeling at 43-5 by the fifth over.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed added pressure by removing Haider Ali (6), before Faheem Ashraf dismissed Azam Khan (6), caught brilliantly by Wasim Junior on the boundary.

Ben Dwarshuis (31) and Imad Wasim added a 55-run ninth-wicket stand to delay the inevitable. Saud Shakeel ended Dwarshuis’s stay, while Imad was bowled by Wasim Junior after a 41-ball 56, featuring two sixes and five fours.

Amir was supported well by Abrar (2-17) and Wasim Junior (2-28).

Earlier, Rossouw and Hasan delivered a batting masterclass to help Quetta post the highest-ever PSL total.

Rossouw's 46-ball 104 included 14 fours and six sixes. He reached his 50 off 26 balls and completed his third PSL century in 42 balls.

Hasan, who hit nine sixes and four fours in his 45-ball unbeaten ton, reached his 50 in 29 balls and brought up his maiden PSL century with a boundary off the final ball.

Quetta were 63-2 after the powerplay, 103-2 at the 10-over mark, and powered to 182-2 in 15 overs. They added 81 runs in the last five overs.

Rossouw and Hasan added 134 runs in just 61 balls for the third wicket. After Rossouw fell to Imad Wasim, Hasan launched a brutal assault. He smashed three sixes off Naseem Shah in the penultimate over, which cost 28 runs, and finished his innings with a boundary off Ben Dwarshuis.

Mark Chapman remained unbeaten on 13 in their unbroken 69-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Earlier, Finn Allen was run out for 5, while skipper Saud Shakeel made 23 off 18 balls before falling to Naseem Shah. Saud had been dropped on 21 but couldn’t capitalize.

United’s bowlers, including Naseem Shah (1-55) and Jason Holder (0-52), were expensive. Imad Wasim was the most effective with 1-42 from four overs.

Islamabad started well with the ball but lost control in the latter half as Quetta’s batters found boundaries with ease.

The defeat was United’s fourth in a row, leaving them on 10 points from nine matches, still in the playoff race but under pressure.