All-round Quetta Gladiators consign Kingsmen to second defeat

Quetta Gladiators secured a dominant 40-run victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen to get on the board in PSL 2026. After opting to bat first, Quetta posted 174 for 8 in their 20 overs. Hyderabad, in response, could only manage 134 for 8. The win gave Quetta their first points of the season, while the Kingsmen remained winless.

Quetta's innings was rebuilt after early setbacks. Riley Meredith removed Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw early, leaving Quetta at 25 for 2. However, Shamyl Hussain and Hasan Nawaz then combined for a vital 89-run partnership for the third wicket. Both batters scored half-centuries: Hussain made 54 off 41 balls, and Nawaz contributed 53 off 40.

The middle-order stumbled again as Maheesh Theekshana took two wickets in the 15th over, including dismissing Ben McDermott for a golden duck. Tom Curran provided late impetus with an unbeaten 31 from 18 balls. Meredith was the pick of the bowlers for Hyderabad with 3 for 38.

Hyderabad's chase began poorly, losing both openers in the first two overs. Alzarri Joseph dismissed Saim Ayub, and Abrar Ahmed removed Maaz Sadaqat. Captain Marnus Labuschagne scored 23 from 21 balls, but wickets fell regularly as Quetta's spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, controlled the scoring. Abrar was particularly effective, finishing with 3 for 23 from his four overs.

A late partnership of 48 runs between Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi and Hassan Khan offered some hope. Irfan top-scored with 33 off 25 balls, while Hassan made a brisk 31 from 10 deliveries. However, once Ahmed Daniyal broke the stand by dismissing Hassan, the tail offered little resistance. Daniyal finished with 2 for 13 from his four overs.

Brief scores: Quetta Gladiators 174/8 in 20 overs (Shamyl Hussain 54, Hasan Nawaz 53, Tom Curran 31; Riley Meredith 3-38, Maheesh Theekshana 2-24) beat Hyderabad Kingsmen 134/8 in 20 overs (Irfan Khan 33, Hassan Khan 31; Abrar Ahmed 3-23, Ahmed Daniyal 2-13) by 40 runs.