Mohammad Rizwan’s brilliant 47-ball 69 and bowling brilliance powered Multan Sultans to a 79-run victory against Quetta Gladiators in the 30th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi on Tuesday.
QUETTA GLADIATORS' INNINGS
Chasing a target of 186, the Gladiators were skittled out for 106, with Omair Yousuf remaining the team's top scorer, scoring 25-ball 37, studding with three boundaries and two sixes.
Other batters, Jason Roy (3), Saud Shakeel (14), Rilee Rossouw (10), Laurie Evans (1), Khawaja Nafay (16), Akeal Hosein (6), Mohammad Wasim (11), Mohammad Amir (3), and Abrar Ahmed (0), could not show significant resistance with the bat.
Usman Tariq remained unbeaten on 2-ball 0.
For the Sultans, David Willey (3-22) and Usama Mir (3-22) scooped up three wickets apiece.
Abbas Afridi (2-14) grabbed two wickets.
Mohammad Ali (1-35) picked up a wicket.
Chris Jordan (0-12) remained wicketless.
MULTAN SULTANS' INNINGS
After being put into bat, Mohammad Rizwan’s brilliant 47-ball 69 and Johnson Charles’ (53 off 29) late fireworks powered the Sultans to a formidable total.
The Sultans faced an early hiccup, when Rizwan-inspired team lost Yasir Khan on 11-ball 12. But it was the partnership of 40-ball 52 between Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan that added impetus to the Sultans’ innings, before Abrar Ahmed removed Usman Khan on 23-ball 21, who was in sublime form.
But Rizwan found another ally in Johnson Charles as the pair racked up a crucial partnership, scoring 43-ball 68.
The Sultans power hitter, Iftikhar Ahmed played an unbeaten cameo of late, scoring 8-ball 20, smashing two boundaries and one six.
Tayyab Tahir remained unbeaten, scoring a 2-ball 3.
For the Gladiators, Mohammad Amir (2-40) had picked up two wickets.
Abrar Ahmed (1-39) and Mohammad Wasim (1-31) took a scalp apiece.
Akeal Hosein (0-26), Saud Shakeel (0-10), and Usman Tariq (0-38) remained wicketless.
TOSS
The Gladiators had elected to field first against the Sultans in the domestic premium tournament.
TEAMS
Quatta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel, Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Omair Bin Yousuf, Laurie Evans (wk), Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Yasir Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Johnson Charles, Iftikhar Ahmed, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Ali