RAWALPINDI: Quetta Gladiators clinched a thrilling two-wicket win over Multan Sultans to move to the top of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 points table at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a formidable target of 186, the Gladiators got off to a blazing start as captain Saud Shakeel and Khawaja Nafay came out with attacking intent.
The opening pair put on a rapid 60-run partnership during the powerplay, setting a solid platform.
Nafay was the standout performer, registering yet another PSL half-century with an array of boundaries.
His blistering 51 off just 26 deliveries, laced with five fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 196.15, kept the required rate under control.
Their 77-run opening stand was eventually broken by Shahid Aziz, who removed Nafay. Shortly after, Shakeel was dismissed for a sluggish 18 from 24 balls, leaving Quetta at 81/2 in 8.5 overs.
Sri Lankan batter Avishka Fernando, featuring in his first PSL 10 match, couldn’t make an impact and departed for 7, again to Shahid Aziz, reducing the Gladiators to 87/3.
Important partnership
Veteran Dinesh Chandimal kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Hassan Nawaz, guiding the side past the 100-run mark. Chandimal’s brief but vital cameo of 17 off 10 balls came to an end at 116/4, courtesy of Ubaid Shah.
The collapse continued as Danish Aziz was dismissed for a duck by Peter Hatzoglou, and Faheem Ashraf, after contributing 16, fell at a crucial point with the score at 159/6 in 17.1 overs.
Mohammad Wasim Jr. was run out for just 1 in the 18th over, ramping up the pressure.
Nevertheless, Hassan Nawaz held his nerve. With 11 runs needed off the final over, the young batter remained composed.
He sealed the match in dramatic fashion, smashing a six off the last delivery to secure the win.
Nawaz remained unbeaten on a match-winning 67 off 38 balls, guiding his side home in a nail-biting finish.
Rizwan’s dismissal
Earlier, Multan Sultans, having been put in to bat, got off to a bright start with Yasir Khan striking consecutive boundaries in the opening over.
However, skipper Mohammad Rizwan was bowled by Faheem Ashraf in the second over for just 4, leaving the side at 12/1.
Yasir and Jahanzeib Sultan steadied the innings with a 52-run partnership. Jahanzeib contributed 25 off 21 before falling to Usman Tariq, who also dismissed Yasir Khan (45 off 25) soon after, reducing the Sultans to 79/3 in 9 overs.
Tayyab Tahir and Humayon Altaf added 41 runs for the fourth wicket. Altaf was dismissed for 16 off 13, with Khurram Shahzad taking his wicket.
The Sultans lost momentum in the closing overs. Abrar Ahmed removed Hatzoglou cheaply, while Aamer Azmat provided a late boost with a powerful six off Shahzad in the 18th over. Azmat remained unbeaten on 21 off 16 deliveries.
In the final over, Mohammad Wasim Jr. claimed the wicket of Shahid Aziz, who had played a brisk knock of 29 off 14 balls.
Mohammad Hasnain ended the innings with a boundary, helping Multan post a competitive 185/7.
