Multan Sultans climbed back to the top of the table with a composed six-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators, chasing down 167 in just 17.3 overs after a disciplined bowling display set the tone.
Match Summary:
- Multan Sultans 167/4 (Smith 53, Masood 46*, Farhan 32, Hasan Nawaz 2-17)
- Quetta Gladiators 166/7 (Shakeel 56, Jacobs 49*, Mohammad Nawaz 3-30, Minhas 2-14)
- Multan Sultans won by six wickets
Steven Smith’s first PSL half-century, combined with an effective spin effort, ensured Sultans controlled the contest at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday night.
Flying Start Sets the Platform
Any doubts about the chase were quickly erased at the start of the innings. Smith and Sahibzada Farhan launched an aggressive opening stand, racing to 63 within the first four overs, with the fifty partnership arriving in just 3.2 overs.
By the end of the powerplay, Sultans were 83 for 1 — matching their own record for the highest score in the first six overs this season, previously achieved against Hyderabad Kingsmen.
With the asking rate under control early, the chase soon turned into a matter of managing the innings rather than forcing it.
Smith Leads, Masood Finishes
Smith’s attacking approach meant the equation was reduced to 84 required from 84 deliveries, allowing Sultans to shift gears. Singles and twos flowed, with boundaries coming when needed.
Shan Masood then anchored the chase with a calm unbeaten 46, ensuring there were no late complications. Even after Smith’s dismissal — following a sharp relay catch at square leg by Saqib Khan and Rilee Rossouw — the visitors maintained control and saw the chase through comfortably.
Spin Dominance Shapes the Game
Earlier, Sultans’ decision to rely heavily on spin proved decisive. On a surface where 184 and 198 had been chased earlier in the week, deploying spin from both ends initially raised questions. However, the tactic paid off as they bowled 16 overs of spin, effectively exploiting Gladiators’ struggles against turn.
Ashton Turner’s move to introduce spin early brought immediate success, with Khawaja Nafay and Shamyl Hussain dismissed inside 2.1 overs.
Gladiators Fight Back but Fall Short
The early setbacks were countered by Saud Shakeel and Hasan Nawaz, who added 55 runs to stabilise the innings. Their partnership ended when Josh Phillippe produced a sharp stumping to remove Hasan Nawaz off Arafat Minhas, who finished with two wickets for 14 in four overs.
Minhas struck again in the same over to dismiss Rossouw, tightening Sultans’ grip on the match. Despite Shakeel’s 56 off 41 anchoring the innings, Gladiators struggled to accelerate.
Late contributions from Bevon Jacobs (49* off 31) and Ahmed Daniyal (22 off 9) pushed the total to 166, though Daniyal’s innings was cut short after he appeared to injure his hamstring while completing a third run on the penultimate delivery.
Spin Attack Delivers
Although Faisal Akram conceded 31 runs in his three overs, the overall spin effort remained dominant. The 16 overs of spin yielded just 91 runs and accounted for all six wickets, with Mohammad Nawaz leading the charge with three scalps.
The victory — Sultans’ third in four matches — lifted them back to the top of the points table.
