Sultans end their home leg with a comfortable win over Gladiators

Multan: Multan Sultans finished their home leg on a high after defeating Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium today.

After posting 180-4 in the first innings, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side restricted Quetta Gladiators to 167-9, courtesy of three-wicket hauls by Mohammad Ali and David Willey.

Quetta Gladiators won the toss and elected to field first.

Usman Khan, playing his first game of HBL PSL 9, started the innings with three boundaries in the first over.

Abrar Ahmed provided the first breakthrough as Usman (14, 7b, 3x4s) was stumped in the third over.

Reeza Hendricks joined Mohammad Rizwan in the middle and the two stitched a 79-run second-wicket partnership to bring momentum to Multan’s innings.

Akeal Hosein broke the partnership in the 14th over as Rizwan holed one out to Saud Shakeel at deep midwicket.

The Multan skipper had to walk back after scoring his 18th HBL PSL half-century that showcased two boundaries and four maximums.

Subsequently, Tayyab Tahir – also playing his first game of HBL PSL 9 – partnered with Hendricks for a quickfire 77-run stand that helped Multan get to a satisfactory total.

In the last five overs, Multan amassed 68 runs, with the 18th and 19th overs going for 17 runs each.