Match 11, Multan, February 25, 2024, 02:30 PM
180/4(20.0ov)
167/9(20.0ov)
Multan Sultans beat Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs
Right then, that's all from this entertaining game where the Multan Sultans came out on top and handed the Quetta Gladiators their first defeat of the season. The action does not stop here on this Super Sunday in the 2024 Pakistan Super League, as we have one more game coming up. It will be a bottom-of-the-table clash between the Lahore Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can switch tabs and join us for the build-up there. Cheers!
The skipper of Multan Sultans, Mohammad Rizwan says that they are happy with the win. Feels that they should not be satisfied and always strive to get better. Mentions that they will miss playing in front of the home crowd who have been vocal in their support. States that they were forced to make a few changes due to injuries while some were down to experimentation. Ends by thanking the Multan crowd for their support.
Mohammad Ali is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with the ball. He says that consistency is the key to his performance. He continues that he targets the perfect lines and lengths and he always tries to complete the demands of his team. He ends up saying that four-day cricket has helped him to become a better player.
Time for the presentation ceremony....
The skipper of Quetta Gladiators, Rilee Rossouw says that that their opposition played better cricket than them and they deserved to be on the winning side. He continues that this is their first loss in the campaign and he reckons that they had everything under control till the last five overs of the game. He ends up saying that he should have batted well in this match but he is not very much tensed about it.
Earlier in the game, it was the skipper of Quetta Gladiators, Rilee Rossouw who won the toss and inserted Multan Sultans into bat. Usman Khan got off the blocks quickly but failed to kick on. Coming in at number 3, Reeza Hendricks joined hands with skipper, Mohammad Rizwan and the duo ticked along with ones and twos in the middle phase. Rizwan departed after getting to his fifty. Usman Khan showed intent right from the first ball and injected life into the Sultans' innings. Hendricks got to his fifty as well before turning on the heat to ensure that his side got to 180. For the Quetta Gladiators, Usman Tariq was their most economical bowler on show but was unlucky not to get a wicket.
On the other hand, Quetta Gladiators will be gutted to end up on the losing side. With 9 overs remaining in the chase, they were going along nicely but it fell apart for them once the partnership between Rilee Rossouw and Khawaja Nafay came to an end. It was not the best of starts for the Gladiators as Jason Roy was the first to perish after a scratchy stay at the crease. Saud Shakeel got a few boundaries away but failed to convert his start. Rilee Rossouw and Khawaja Nafay then got together and took the attack the attack to the opposition. The duo did not miss out on punishing loose balls and never let the required run rate become an issue. However, it all went downhill for the Gladiators once Rilee was dismissed. They kept losing wickets one after the other and just could not handle the pressure.
Multan Sultans return to winning ways! With this hard-fought win, Mohammad Rizwan and Co. end their home leg on a high. Having finished strongly with the bat, the Multan Sultans were able to take the momentum into their bowling effort. Mohammad Ali set the tone upfront with the new ball before David Willey accounted for the other opener. However, the rest of the bowling unit could not build on those scalps. As a result, they were left scrambling for wickets in the middle phase. Aftab Ibrahim was brought back into the attack and he answered the skipper's call by breaking the stand that was starting to take the game away from them. Ibrahim helped the Sultans open the floodgates and they never looked back since. Mohammad Ali, Usama Mir and David Willey combined well to pick wickets at regular intervals to seal the win for the Sultans.
In over# 20
0W
0
6
1
1
1
Aftab Ibrahim 26/2(3)
19.6
W
OUT! BOWLED! That's it, it's all done and dusted! Aftab Ibrahim fires this much fuller and on off. Abrar Ahmed makes room to force it through the off side. He connects with thin air and the ball goes on to hit the off-stump. Multan Sultans win the match against Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs!
19.5
.
Low full toss down the leg. Abrar Ahmed makes a bit of room but misses to make a hit to his off side.
19.4
6
SIX! This is huge! Fuller delivery outside off. Abrar Ahmed shuffles across the stump and swats it over the deep backward square leg and gets six runs into his account.
19.3
1
Fuller, once again, on middle and leg. Akeal Hosein drills it but gets the connection from the bottom part of his blade towards long on.
19.2
1
Full-length delivery down the leg, following the batter. Abrar Ahmed has no room for the big shot and drives it towards long off for one.
19.1
1
Short of a length on the stump. Akeal Hosein drills it towards long on and just got a single.
Who will bowl the final over? It will be Aftab Ibrahim (2-0-17-1). Quetta Gladiators need 23 runs off the last over.
In over# 19
4
1
1
0W
1
1
Mohammad Ali 19/3(4)
18.6
4
FOUR! This one is fuller just outside off. Abrar Ahmed slices it just from the outer part of his willow, past the backward point fielder for four more runs.
18.5
1
Keeps it full and straight, on middle, Akeal Hosein drills it down to long off for a single. Singles won't do it for Quetta Gladiators.
