Quetta Gladiators delivered a stunning performance on Tuesday, securing a humiliating 10-wicket victory over Multan Sultans in the 18th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The Gladiators registered their fourth win of PSL 10 with a resounding ten-wicket triumph over the Sultans.
Chasing a modest target of 90 runs, the Gladiators got off to a blistering start, with opener Finn Allen immediately taking the attack to David Willey in the second over, smashing two sixes and a four for 17 runs to set an aggressive tone early in the innings.
Skipper Saud Shakeel provided solid support at the other end, adding timely boundaries to maintain the momentum. The opening pair reached 38-0 in just four overs and brought up their 50-run partnership shortly thereafter, significantly easing the pressure of the chase.
By the end of the powerplay, Quetta had raced to 74-0, showcasing sheer dominance with the bat.
The Gladiators comfortably crossed the finish line with a remarkable 79 deliveries to spare, as Allen launched a six off Usama Mir to seal the emphatic victory.
Allen remained unbeaten on a blistering 45 off just 21 deliveries, while Saud Shakeel scored an impressive 42 not out off a mere 20 balls.
This victory marked a historic moment for Quetta Gladiators, as it was their first-ever win by 10 wickets in the history of the Pakistan Super League.
Earlier in the match, Multan Sultans endured a nightmare start after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Opener Yasir Khan was the first to fall, dismissed by Khurram Shahzad for a meager five runs, and Usman Khan followed him back to the pavilion for a second-ball duck in the very same over, leaving the Sultans reeling at a precarious 7-2.
Khurram continued his fiery spell, striking again in his next over to remove both Kamran Ghulam (3) and Curtis Campher (4), further compounding the Sultans’ woes as they tottered at 20-4 within the first four overs.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed attempted to stabilize the innings but found no respite against the disciplined Quetta bowling attack. Faheem Ashraf dismissed Iftikhar for just six runs and then removed Michael Bracewell for a duck, as Multan slumped further to a dismal 43-6.
David Willey was the next batsman to fall, bowled by Mohammad Wasim Jr for seven runs. Usama Mir was then run out for 11 following a brilliant diving effort in the field by Rilee Rossouw, and a mix-up saw Kusal Mendis combine with Hassan Nawaz to run out Mohammad Hasnain for two.
Rizwan stood as the lone warrior for the Sultans, scoring a valiant 44 runs. However, his resistance was finally broken as he became the last man to fall, bowled by Ubaid Shah, with Multan being bowled out for a paltry 89 runs in just 17 overs.
For Quetta, Khurram Shahzad was the standout performer with a remarkable four-wicket haul. Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim Jr claimed two wickets apiece, while Ubaid Shah picked up the final wicket to seal the dominant bowling performance.
