Quetta lose despite Mahmudullah cameo

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad scored an unbeaten 29 off 20 deliveries in his first Pakistan Super League outing, but his effort for Quetta Gladiators went in vain as they lost against defending champions Islamabad United by five wickets last night.

The 31-year-old hard-hitting batsman struck two fours and a six in his short cameo at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to take Quetta to a challenging score of 148/6 after Asad Shafiq (45) and Ahmed Shehzad had given the side a solid start. Thisara Perera (27) was also among the runs for Quetta.

A late draftee by his franchise, Mahmudullah had flown off to Dubai on Monday night after the end of Bangladesh's one-off Test against Indian in Hyderabad and he seemed to gel in seamlessly in his first outing in Pakistan's Twenty20 franchise league.

However, Islamabad chased down the target with five wickets in hand and five balls to spare. English opener Sam Billings played the crucial knock of unbeaten 78 to guide Islamabad home. Mahmudullah did not get to bowl for his side.