Shane Watson guides Quetta to PSL play-offs

Quetta thus became the first side to make it past the group stage, and are currently on top of the table with 12 points from eight games.

Watson's knock on Monday, 4 March, was his third half-century of the season, and took him to first on the batting charts. In a top-of-the-table clash, he made Peshawar Zalmi pay for lapses in the field, striking six fours and as many sixes in his knock.

A second-wicket partnership of 129 with Ahmed Shehzad ensured that their chase of Peshawar's 165/4 was a comfortable one, wrapping up an eight-wicket win.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Quetta captain, was thrilled that their aspirations for a maiden title were on track. "We have done well so it's great to be in the play-offs," he said. "We try to keep the opponents to totals which we can chase, and great to see Shane and Ahmed play so well."

A concern for Quetta is that Watson may not travel for the Pakistan leg of the tournament. The Australia all-rounder said he hadn't made up his mind about it yet, but insisted the squad had enough depth to do well even without him.

“I have always loved playing against them [Pakistan] in international cricket, and I’ve always really enjoyed the support Pakistan people have given me in all parts of the world. We are going to continue to talk, and we will see,” he was quoted as saying in The National.

“We have an incredibly talented squad ... To be able to get someone like Dwayne Bravo at the back end of a tournament is incredible. That last over he bowled [on Monday] was a crucial moment in the game.

“In terms of the depth in our squad, I am not worried about that at all ... You need as many match-winners throughout your squad as you possibly can.”