LAHORE - Defending champions Multan Sultans not only continued their winning spree but also handed biggest defeat to Quetta in the history of Pakistan Super League, when they thrash Gladiators by 117 runs in the 25th fixture of PSL 7 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
This was the eighth victory of Sultans in the T20 league, thanks to their captain Muhammad Rizwan, Rilee Russouw and Shaun Masood for their classic contributions of brilliant half centuries to help Multan post the biggest total of the PSL 7 and second highest of the PSL history. With this crushing win. Sultans qualified for the Feb 23 Qualifier
Friday afternoon’s match result means Multan Sultans are now on 16 points and irrespective of how their last league match against Islamabad United on Feb 20 pans out, they will finish in the top-two of the six-team tournament. Sultans’ victory also ensured Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi also progressed to the play-offs.
Chasing the mammoth target of 246 runs, Quetta Gladiators batters failed to bat with responsibility and kept on gifting their wickets on regular interval, thus were bundled out for paltry 128 runs. Seven of Quetta batsmen could not even cross the double figures. Only Umar Akmal faced the Sultans bowlers well and managed to score fine 50 off just 23 balls that included 6 sixes and 2 fours. Two other notable Quetta batters, who played Sultans’ bowlers well were Jason Roy (38) and Sarfraz Ahmed (17*). From the defending champions, David Wiley, Shahnawaz Dahani, Khushdal Shah and Asif Afridi bowled brilliantly and bagged two wickets each while Imran Tahir got one.
Earlier, Multan Sultans batters once again showed their class and helped their side create history by posting a mammoth total of 245 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Earlier, Islamabad United had scored 247 runs for the loss of 2 wickets against Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL 6, which is by far the largest collection of any team in the history of the Pakistan Super League.
Captain Muhammad Rizwan along with opener Shan Masood provided a sterling start to Sultans as they gathered 119 runs for the first-wicket stand. Rizwan hammered unbeaten 83 off 54 balls hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes while opener Shan Masood cracked 57 runs that included 1 six and 6 fours.
However, South African batsman Rilee Russouw made the cut. He played a lightning-fast innings of 71 off 26 balls with a strike rate of 273. His swashbuckling knock included 9 fours and 4 sixes. Khushdil Shah struck 10 runs while the champions also earned 24 runs as Extras. Mohammad Irfan, Naseem Shah and Ghulam Mudassar took one wicket each for Quetta Gladiators. Rilee Russouw emerged as player of the match.
Scores in brief
MULTAN SULTANS 245-3, 20 overs (M Rizwan 83 not out, Rilee Rossouw 71, Shan Masood 57) beat QUETTA GLADIATORS 128 all out, 15.5 overs (Umar Akmal 50, Jason Roy 38; Khushdil Shah 2-17, Dahani 2-22, David Willey 2-22, Asif Afridi 2-42) by 117 runs.
27th MATCH
Lahore Qalandars
vs
Islamabad United
At 7:30 pm
This was the eighth victory of Sultans in the T20 league, thanks to their captain Muhammad Rizwan, Rilee Russouw and Shaun Masood for their classic contributions of brilliant half centuries to help Multan post the biggest total of the PSL 7 and second highest of the PSL history. With this crushing win. Sultans qualified for the Feb 23 Qualifier
Friday afternoon’s match result means Multan Sultans are now on 16 points and irrespective of how their last league match against Islamabad United on Feb 20 pans out, they will finish in the top-two of the six-team tournament. Sultans’ victory also ensured Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi also progressed to the play-offs.
Chasing the mammoth target of 246 runs, Quetta Gladiators batters failed to bat with responsibility and kept on gifting their wickets on regular interval, thus were bundled out for paltry 128 runs. Seven of Quetta batsmen could not even cross the double figures. Only Umar Akmal faced the Sultans bowlers well and managed to score fine 50 off just 23 balls that included 6 sixes and 2 fours. Two other notable Quetta batters, who played Sultans’ bowlers well were Jason Roy (38) and Sarfraz Ahmed (17*). From the defending champions, David Wiley, Shahnawaz Dahani, Khushdal Shah and Asif Afridi bowled brilliantly and bagged two wickets each while Imran Tahir got one.
Earlier, Multan Sultans batters once again showed their class and helped their side create history by posting a mammoth total of 245 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Earlier, Islamabad United had scored 247 runs for the loss of 2 wickets against Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL 6, which is by far the largest collection of any team in the history of the Pakistan Super League.
Captain Muhammad Rizwan along with opener Shan Masood provided a sterling start to Sultans as they gathered 119 runs for the first-wicket stand. Rizwan hammered unbeaten 83 off 54 balls hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes while opener Shan Masood cracked 57 runs that included 1 six and 6 fours.
However, South African batsman Rilee Russouw made the cut. He played a lightning-fast innings of 71 off 26 balls with a strike rate of 273. His swashbuckling knock included 9 fours and 4 sixes. Khushdil Shah struck 10 runs while the champions also earned 24 runs as Extras. Mohammad Irfan, Naseem Shah and Ghulam Mudassar took one wicket each for Quetta Gladiators. Rilee Russouw emerged as player of the match.
Scores in brief
MULTAN SULTANS 245-3, 20 overs (M Rizwan 83 not out, Rilee Rossouw 71, Shan Masood 57) beat QUETTA GLADIATORS 128 all out, 15.5 overs (Umar Akmal 50, Jason Roy 38; Khushdil Shah 2-17, Dahani 2-22, David Willey 2-22, Asif Afridi 2-42) by 117 runs.
27th MATCH
Lahore Qalandars
vs
Islamabad United
At 7:30 pm
