LAHORE: 2021 champions Multan Sultans defeated Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets in match 13 of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Despite South Shakeel’s half-century, Sultans captain Ashton Turner’s decision came first as their spinner-led bowling attack reduced the 2019 champions to a modest total of 166/7 in 20 overs.
The skipper top-scored for the Gladiators with 56 off 41 balls with 6 fours and a six, followed by middle-order batsman Bevon Jacobs’ unbeaten 49 off 31 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Mohammad Nawaz sparked the Sultans’ bowling with 3 for just 30 from his four overs, Arafat Minhas with two scalps and skipper Turner with one.
In reply, Sultans easily chased down a modest target of 167 runs with 4 wickets and 15 balls to spare thanks to Steve Smith’s magnificent half-century.
Former Australian captain Sultan scored a blistering 35-ball 53 while veteran Shaun Masood scored an unbeaten 30-ball 46.
Among the Gladiators’ bowlers, Hasan Nawaz took 2 for 17 in his two overs, while Alzari Joseph and captain South claimed one wicket each.
The six-wicket win saw Sultans finish third in four matches and lift them to the top of the PSL with 11 points after beating Karachi Kings.
While both Kings and Sultans have scored six runs each, the latter have a better net run rate of 0.588.
| Teams | Competitions | succeeds | Losses | No result | points | Net flow rate |
| Sultans of Multan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0.588 |
| Kings of Karachi | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.486 |
| Islamabad United | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1.055 |
| Lahore Colleagues | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1.546 |
| Peshawar Salmi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.674 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -0.223 |
| Rawalpindi’s | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.414 |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -2.077 |
On the other hand, Gladiators succumbed to their third loss in four matches and finished sixth in the standings with two points and a negative net run rate of -0.223.
Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi are third, fourth and sixth with five, four and three points respectively, while Rawalpindis and Hyderabad Kingsmen occupy the bottom two spots after losing their first three matches each.