ISLAMABAD: In a high-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) match in Rawalpindi on Saturday, Multan Sultans defeated Quetta Gladiators by nine runs after setting a mammoth 263-run target in the first 20 overs of the contest.
The Gladiators won the toss ahead of the game and decided to field, though it turned out to be a daunting task to restrict the hard-hitting Sultan batters who only gave three wickets to the bowlers.
Opening batter Usman Khan set a new PSL record by scoring the fasted century (120 off 43 deliveries), helping Sultans set the highest target in the tournament’s history.
Other batters, such as Mohammad Rizwan (55) and Tim David (43), also came to the ground with all guns blazing, taking full benefit of the pitch that did not provide much assistance to bowlers.
Despite the huge target, Quetta did not crumble under pressure and put up a good fight.
However, the batters consistently lost wickets and scored 253 for 8 toward the end of the match.
Quetta’s Omair Yousuf (67) and Iftikhar Ahmed (53) gave magnificent batting performances and tried to maintain a fast pace of the innings.
Multan’s Abbas Afridi impressed in the bowling department by taking 5 wickets in 4 overs.
It was a crucial game for the Gladiators who were striving to get into the playoffs.
Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans were the first three teams that got into the next championship phase that will begin on March 15.
