In the season’s last league game, Multan Sultans defeated Quetta Gladiators by a commanding 79 runs, securing first place in the standings and ensuring them two chances to advance to the PSL 2024 playoffs. A strong batting display spearheaded by half-centurions Johnson Charles and Muhammad Rizwan propelled the team to 185 before the bowlers grabbed control and soundly defeated the opposition in front of their own post-league elimination match.
Yasir Khan, the Sultans’ first batsman, was dismissed by Mohammed Amir for an erroneous pull shot. However, a strong powerplay score of 43 was maintained by Rizwan and Usman Khan, largely because of a 17-run fifth over against Abrar Ahmed. With a flatter delivery that slipped off the surface and pinged the batter’s pads in front of the stumps, the leggie retaliated and dismissed Usman Khan. The Sultans were still making modest progress at 70/2 at the halfway point of the innings.
After Charles joined Rizwan, the two quickly generated momentum, with each batsman hitting a six in the next two overs. As Rizwan was on his way to yet another half-century, Charles assumed control and forcefully hit Usman Tariq for a six over deep mid-wicket. He then displayed his skill by dabbing a cut past point for four. After reaching his milestone, Rizwan blasted another six, but he was bowled out for 69 from 47 balls while trying to loft an Amir off-cut. But in the next over, Charles punished Tariq even more, smashing the mysterious spinner for two more fours and a six.
On the very pitch where Peshawar had defended 147 just the night before, the West Indian reached a 27-ball half-century and was well-supported at the end by a cameo from Iftikhar Ahmed as the Sultans amassed 77 in the final six overs to pose a formidable 185.
And as the Gladiators’ pursuit soon came to an end, it turned out to be an over-par objective. After failing to make a pull shot, Jason Roy was dismissed LBW by fellow countryman David Willey. This dismissal resulted in a heated exchange of words between Roy and the Sultan fielders. Saud Shakeel got run-out in the same over while attempting to find a legbye that wasn’t there.
After the powerplay ended, Willey’s stunning yorker had knocked over Rilee Rossouw, putting the Gladiators down three. After that, they never bounced back, even after Omair Yousuf fined them 37. The Gladiators were all out in 16 overs thanks to Usama Mir’s three-wicket haul and Willey’s own three-wicket effort, which helped finish off the bottom order. On Thursday, March 14, the Sultans will play Peshawar Zalmi in the first qualifying match, and the Gladiators will play Islamabad United in the Eliminator match the following evening.
Brief scores: Quetta Gladiators 106 in 15.5 overs (Omair Yousuf 37; David Willey 3-22, Usama Mir 3-22) were defeated by Multan Sultans 185/4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 69, Johnson Charles 53; Mohammad Amir 2-40) by a margin of 79 runs.
