LAHORE: Defending champions Multan Sultans qualified for the 23 February Qualifier of the Pakistan Super League 2022 with a punishing 117 runs victory over a hapless Quetta Gladiators in front of an almost full-house at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw and Shan Masood struck electrifying half-centuries as Multan Sultans scored 81 runs off the last five overs to post 245 for three in 20 overs, second highest total in the HBL PSL history, after electing to bat first in perfect batting conditions.
In turn, Umar Akmal and Jason Roy provided entertainment to a festive and cheerful crowd but the 246-run target proved to be an uphill task as Quetta Gladiators were bowled out for 128 in 15.5 overs. Umar scored a 23-ball 50 (two fours and six sixes), while Roy scored a 19-ball 38 (seven fours and a six).
Friday afternoon’s match result means Multan Sultans are now on 16 points and irrespective of how their last league match against Islamabad United on 20 Feb pans out, they will finish in the top-two of the six-team tournament. Sultans’ victory also ensured Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi also progressed to the play-offs.
In contrast, the only way the Quetta Gladiators (currently on six points from nine matches) can keep alive their slim chances of qualifying for the play-offs is:
Islamabad United (presently on eight points from eight matches) badly loses b
