Multan Sultans knock Quetta Gladiators out of HBL PSL 6
Multan Sultans registered a comprehensive 110-run victory to knock out Quetta Gladiators from HBL PSL 6 on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 184-runs, Jake Weatherald made his intentions clear as he smashed Sohail Tanvir for a six and boundary in his first over. The Australian batsman also welcomed Imran Khan into the attack with a six over cover. However, the right-arm pacer had the last laugh as Weatherald was caught behind for 19 on the next ball.
Imran wasn’t done as he also dismissed Cameron Delport for a duck in the same over.
Following Imran’s over, a horrible mix-up in the middle led to the departure of Usman Khan for 12.
Azam Khan also failed to impress as he edged a wide delivery from Blessing Muzarabani to wicketkeeper Rizwan.
Quetta needed their captain to step up to stay alive in the tournament, but Sarfaraz top edged a delivery from Sohail Tanvir, straight into the hands of Imran Tahir at third man and departed for 13, with Quetta reeling at 59-5.
After enforcing a run out of Mohammad Nawaz unintentionally, Tahir dismissed Hassan Khan and Khurram Shehzad on consecutive deliveries to leave Quetta in massive trouble at 59-8.
Tahir then trapped Usman Shinwari lbw in his second over to pick his third wicket.
Dahani picked the last wicket to bowl out Gladiators for 73.
Earlier, Shan Masood’s brisk 73-run knock helped Multan Sultans post 183-5 against Quetta Gladiators.
After being asked to bat first, Sultans had an aggressive start as Masood took a liking to the left-arm spin of Mohammad Nawaz. The left-hander smashed two fours in the all-rounder’s over, before giving the same treatment to Usman Shinwari in his third over.
While Mohammad Rizwan took his time to get going, Masood kept accelerating at the other end and brought up the fifty partnership at the end of powerplay.
Masood didn’t alter his pace despite the end of powerplay as he dispatched consecutive sixes against Nawaz, to bring up his fifty in just 26 balls.
Quetta introduced Khurram Shehzad into the attack and the move paid dividend straight away as he bowled Sultans skipper for 21.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Zahir Khan was next to strike for Quetta as he clean bowled Sohaib Maqsood with a delivery that turned back sharply into the stumps and right-hander departed after scoring only 5.
Masood was joined by Johnson Charles, who upped the ante in Shinwari’s final over and smashed the pacer two boundaries.
Masood welcomed left-arm spinner Hassan Khan into the attack with consecutive sixes, thereby registering his highest score in PSL. However, Hassan got his revenge in the same over as Masood decided to go aerial again but was caught at long off for 73.
After going for 27 runs in his first two overs, Nawaz also redeemed himself by removing Rilee Rossouw for 2.
With Sultan losing wickets in quick succession, they needed their foreign import Charles to take charge. Charles responded with a quick-fire 47-run inning from 24 balls, to post a competitive total.
Khurram Shehzad was the pick of the bowlers for Quetta as he finished with two wickets, while conceding 26 runs in his four-over spell.
