Quetta players receive hefty prize money for win over Karachi

Quetta Gladiators’ players, who played an important role in their team’s win over Karachi Kings on Saturday, received cash prize from their franchise owner Nadeem Omar.

Martin Guptil, who hit his maiden PSL century, received a cash prize of Rs500,000, whereas, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Qais Ahmad and Odean Smith received Rs50,000 each.

“The cricketers who play an important role in Quetta’s victories will be given cash prizes during the remainder of the tournament as well,” said Omar.

Guptill’s superlative century – the first of the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 – scripted Quetta Gladiators’ six-run win over Karachi Kings at the National Bank Cricket Arena on Friday evening. Guptill’s astonishing effort - that saw him rack up the joint-second highest individual score in HBL PSL history with 67-ball 117 - consigned Karachi Kings to their third straight defeat of the season.

Guptill and Iftikhar Ahmed added 69 runs for the fifth wicket in 52 balls before Iftikhar miscued a pull shot off Mohammad Amir to Imran Tahir.

The highlight of Guptill’s ballistic charge came in the penultimate over when he smashed three sixes and three fours off Andrew Tye. He clubbed 12 fours and five sixes in total as Quetta Gladiators posted 168 for seven.

Naseem Shah (one for 29) and Hasnain (two for 29) were rewarded for their brilliant death bowling as they gave away just six and seven runs respectively in the 18th and 19th overs leaving an improbable task of 24 runs in the last over of the game.