Saud, Rossouw lead Gladiators win

They secured a 61-run victory over Rawalpindi

Captain Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw anchored Quetta Gladiators' batting effort before a disciplined bowling display secured a 61-run victory over Rawalpindi in the HBL Pakistan Super League at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

Quetta posted 182 for six after being asked to bat first on a surface offering variable bounce, with Rawalpindi bowled out for 121 in 17.3 overs in response, suffering a second consecutive defeat in the competition.

The innings revolved around an 87-run stand between Saud and Rossouw after early pressure from Rawalpindi's pace attack. Opening batter Sam Harper fell for eight, bowled by Ben Sears off a slower delivery in the fourth over.

Rossouw and Saud rebuilt with controlled stroke play, taking Quetta to 70 for one at the halfway stage despite tight bowling from Asif Afridi and Sears and disciplined spells from spinners Mubasir Khan and Saad Masood.

Rossouw struck a fluent 53 off 42 balls, bringing up his half-century with a boundary before lifting a six over mid-wicket. Saud added a steady 42 off 39 balls, focusing on strike rotation and selective aggression before falling to Sears.

Quetta's innings accelerated in the final overs through Hasan Nawaz, who hit 39 off 16 balls, including five sixes, shifting momentum decisively. Jahandad Khan added an unbeaten 21 off six deliveries to lift the total past 180.

Rawalpindi's chase collapsed early when captain Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed first ball, edging Jahandad Khan to slip. The top order never recovered, with Usman Khawaja run out for seven and Yasir Khan falling for 22 after a brief counterattack.

Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 30 off 32 balls, while Abdullah Fazal contributed 20, but wickets at regular intervals prevented any sustained recovery.

Saad Masood offered late resistance with 31 off 19 balls, including three sixes, but the effort only narrowed the margin of defeat.

Quetta's bowlers shared the wickets in a clinical display. Jahandad Khan led with two for eight, including the key dismissal of Rizwan, while Usman Tariq also claimed two wickets. Saud Shakeel chipped in with two wickets in a single over, further derailing the chase.

The win marked Quetta's second of the season and highlighted their balance between top-order stability and lower-order power, while Rawalpindi remained winless after another inconsistent batting performance.