LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators delivered a clinical all-round performance to crush Multan Sultans by 10 wickets in a lopsided contest at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, propelling themselves to second place on the PSL 2025 points table.
The comprehensive victory, achieved with a staggering 79 balls to spare, saw Quetta climb above Lahore Qalandars with eight points from six matches, firmly establishing them as serious title contenders in this season’s Pakistan Super League.
The foundation for Quetta’s dominant win was laid by their bowling attack, which dismantled Multan Sultans for a paltry 89 runs in just 17 overs – the second-lowest total in PSL history.
Khurram Shahzad was the architect of Multan’s downfall, returning exceptional figures of 4-23. He received outstanding support from Mohammad Wasim (2-18) and Faheem Ashraf (2-21) as the Gladiators’ attack exhibited remarkable discipline and skill throughout the innings.
“The bowling unit worked perfectly to a plan today,” said a delighted Khurram Shahzad after the match. “We identified their weaknesses and executed our strategies precisely. To restrict any team to under 90 in T20 cricket is always special.”
Multan’s innings was a procession of batsmen to and from the pavilion, with wickets falling at alarmingly regular intervals. The collapse began early when Yasir Khan (5) and Usman Khan (0) departed in the second over, setting the tone for what was to follow.
By the fourth over, Sultans were reeling at 20-4, and despite captain Mohammad Rizwan’s valiant resistance, they continued to lose wickets throughout. Rizwan carried his bat for an unbeaten 44 off 44 deliveries, accounting for nearly half of his team’s total, but received minimal support from his teammates.
Usama Mir (11) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as Sultans recorded one of the most disappointing batting displays of the tournament. The final wicket fell on the last ball of the 17th over when Ubaid Shah was dismissed for 1, leaving Rizwan stranded and Sultans with their lowest total of PSL 2025.
If Quetta’s bowling was impressive, their batting response was nothing short of spectacular. Openers Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel launched a blistering assault on Multan’s bowlers, treating the Gaddafi Stadium crowd to a breathtaking display of power hitting.
The duo took just 6.5 overs to chase down the target of 90, finishing the job in a mere 41 deliveries – the fastest successful run chase in PSL history when batting second.
New Zealand’s Finn Allen led the onslaught with an unbeaten 45 off just 21 balls, smashing two boundaries and five towering sixes. His opening partner, Saud Shakeel, was equally destructive, hammering 42 not out from 20 deliveries with three fours and four sixes.
The pair recorded Quetta’s highest powerplay score of the season, reaching 75-0 in six overs before completing the chase shortly after. Their unbroken partnership of 90 came at an astonishing strike rate of 219.51, highlighting the gulf between the two sides on the day.
“We wanted to make a statement with our batting,” said Allen in the post-match presentation. “The bowlers did an incredible job setting up this opportunity, and we were determined to finish it in style. The wicket played beautifully, and we just expressed ourselves.”
The victory has significant implications for the PSL 2025 standings:
Quetta Gladiators (4 wins, 2 losses) move to second place with 8 points, overtaking Lahore Qalandars on net run rate
Multan Sultans (1 win, 6 losses) remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just 2 points, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread
The emphatic nature of the win has also substantially boosted Quetta’s net run rate, which could prove crucial in the race for playoff qualification.
“This was the complete performance we’ve been working toward,” said Quetta captain Saud Shakeel. “To bowl them out for under 90 and then chase it without losing a wicket shows the quality and depth we have. We’re hitting form at the right time.”
Meanwhile, Multan Sultans face an uphill battle to salvage their season. After a seventh defeat in eight matches, last year’s finalists must win their remaining fixtures and hope for favorable results elsewhere to have any chance of advancing.
A dejected Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged his team’s poor performance: “We need to take a hard look at ourselves. When you’re bowled out for 89 and then see the opposition chase it down in seven overs, there’s not much to say. We’ve let ourselves down badly today.”
Quetta Gladiators will look to build on this momentum when they face table-toppers Islamabad United in their next fixture, while Multan Sultans must regroup quickly before taking on Peshawar Zalmi in a must-win encounter.