Match overview
Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United by 2 wickets at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 3 May 2025 in a Pakistan Super League T20 fixture that was not settled until the final stages of the chase. Islamabad United posted 157/9 after winning the powerplay comfortably, but a five-wicket collapse across the middle overs restricted them to a target that Quetta, despite losing 8 wickets, were able to reach. Hassan Nawaz was named Player of the Match.
The match followed a familiar pattern at Gaddafi: a strong start for the batting side undone in the middle phase. Islamabad scored 59 runs for just 1 wicket in the first six overs, well above the ground's T20 powerplay average of 46 runs. Overs 7 to 15 then brought five dismissals for only 40 runs, which kept the total within Quetta's reach. In the chase, Quetta's middle overs produced 60 runs for 4 wickets, giving them enough of a platform to navigate a tense finish.
Venue and conditions
Gaddafi Stadium has hosted 145 T20 matches, with an average first-innings score of 208 and an average second-innings score of 177. Both teams posted well below those averages, suggesting the surface played slower than usual or the bowling was particularly effective in the middle overs. The ground's powerplay average of 46 runs was exceeded by Islamabad but only just matched by Quetta, who scored 53 in that phase.
The death overs tell another story. The venue average for the death phase is 43 runs; Islamabad scored 58 and Quetta 46 in those final four overs respectively. Teams batting second face a historically difficult task at this ground: the chase success rate is just 43% across all 145 T20 fixtures. Quetta defied that trend, making their win one that the numbers suggest was against the odds.
Toss decisions at Gaddafi lean only marginally towards fielding first, with 49% of toss winners opting to field. Quetta chose to do exactly that and it paid off, though barely.
How to watch
PSL matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV. Fixtures are played in Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), which runs 5 hours ahead of British Summer Time (BST), meaning evening matches in Lahore typically start around 15:00 BST. UK viewers should check the Sky Sports schedule for confirmed broadcast slots, as some fixtures are also available via the PSL's own digital platforms.
Recent form
Going into this fixture, Islamabad United had won three of their previous five PSL matches in 2025, including back-to-back wins over Multan Sultans. They had lost their two most recent games against Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars before this contest, which will have added some pressure on their campaign. Quetta Gladiators arrived in stronger shape: three wins from their last four completed matches, with victories over Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Karachi Kings. Their only defeat in that run came against Karachi Kings, and one game against Lahore Qalandars was abandoned without a result. Quetta's form made them competitive favourites on recent evidence, even if the venue data gave Islamabad reason for optimism with the bat first.