Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season on April 2, 2026. The Sherus won their first game at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. In match 9 of the tournament, captain Shadab Khan and young opener Sameer Minhas led the team to a dominant win.
The Quetta Gladiators batted first and set a target of 184 runs. However, Islamabad United reached the target with 10 balls to spare, finishing at 189/2 in 18.2 overs. Captain Shadab Khan earned the Player of the Match award for taking three wickets and scoring an unbeaten half-century.
Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators Match Highlights
| Date | April 2, 2026 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| First Innings Score | Quetta Gladiators: 183/5 (20 Overs) |
| Second Innings Score | Islamabad United: 182/2 (18.2 Overs) |
| Match Result | Islamabad United won by 8 wickets (10 Balls remaining) |
| Top Batter | Sameer Minhas: 82* (48) |
| Top Bowler | Shadab Khan: 3/23 |
| Player of the Match | Shadab Khan (69* runs and 3 wickets for 23 runs) |
Islamabad United Dominates Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2026 Match 9
Islamabad United showed great strength in their chase of 184 runs. Initially, the team lost two early wickets as Abrar Ahmed bowled exceptionally well for the Gladiators. However, Sameer Minhas and Shadab Khan joined forces to create an unbeatable partnership.
Specifically, the duo added 128 runs for the third wicket to seal the game. 19-year-old Sameer Minhas scored 82 runs from 48 balls, including eight fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan remained not out with 69 runs off 39 deliveries.
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The run chase began with Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas opening the batting. Soon, Abrar Ahmed dismissed Conway for 18 runs in the fifth over. Shortly after, the spinner also removed Andries Gous for just two runs. Consequently, Islamabad United found themselves at 61 for 2 in the seventh over. Nevertheless, the captain walked to the crease and changed the momentum of the game immediately. Moreover, the pair reached the 100-run mark in the 12th over. Eventually, Minhas finished the match in style by hitting a six off Ahmed Daniyal.
Sameer Minhas and Shadab Khan Secure Record Run Chase
This victory set a new record for Islamabad United. Indeed, it is now their highest successful run chase against Quetta Gladiators in the history of the PSL. Previously, their best chase against this opponent was 183 runs in 2023.
Shadab Khan’s leadership and confidence stood out during the second innings. Therefore, he chose to attack the key bowlers once he felt comfortable at the crease. Similarly, Sameer Minhas showed maturity beyond his years.
According to the captain, Minhas only needed a platform to express his exciting talent. Furthermore, the pitch at Gaddafi Stadium became easier for batting as the night progressed. Thus, the batters used the pace of the ball to find boundaries easily.
Islamabad United Innings Key Highlights
Islamabad United finished with a run rate of 10.3 per over. Notably, they made 58 runs for the loss of one wicket during the powerplay. Meanwhile, the team reached 150 runs in just 15.4 overs. The partnership between Shadab and Minhas lasted for 68 balls. They scored a total of 151 runs together and remained not out.
Quetta Gladiators Batting Performance and Late Surge
The Gladiators won the toss, and they chose to bat first. Their openers, Saud Shakeel and Shamyl Hussain, gave them a fast start. They reached 50 runs in just 4.2 overs. However, Islamabad United’s bowlers fought back in the middle overs. Salman Irshad dismissed Shamyl Hussain for 21 runs to break the opening stand. Then, Shadab Khan took the crucial wicket of Saud Shakkel, who scored 42 runs.
Quetta Gladiators suffered a middle-order collapse as they lost three wickets for only five runs. Shadab Khan dismissed Ben McDermott and Bevon Jacobs on back-to-back deliveries. Quetta fell to 93 for 5 in the 12th over.
Nevertheless, Hasan Nawaz and Tom Curran rescued the innings with an unbeaten 90-run partnership. Hasan Nawaz made 66 runs off 36 balls, including six fours and three sixes. Tom Curran supported him with 29 runs off 22 balls. Together, they pushed the total to a competitive 183 for 5.
PSL 2026 Table Impact
This win puts Islamabad United in fourth position of the PSL points table. Previously, they were struggling at the bottom of the rankings. Quetta Gladiators will feel disappointed because they failed to defend a high total. They are in sixth position in the points table. Indeed, Captain Saud Shakeel admitted that his team was 10 runs short of a winning score.
The pitch conditions changed during the game. The surface was slightly difficult for the batters. However, it improved significantly in the second innings. The Islamabad United batters could play risk-free cricket while still scoring quickly. The humidity and the heavy ball made it harder for the bowlers to control the run rate in the evening.
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