Multan outplay Quetta to join Karachi at top of points table

SHARJAH: Multan Sultans outplayed Quetta Gladiators by an impressive margin of nine wickets in the thirteenth Twenty20 match in the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing an easy target of 103, the Sultans completed their third victory in PSL-3 with 20 balls remaining.

Kumar Sangakkara remained not out on 51, made off 44 balls with five fours and a six while Sohaib Maqsood scored an unbeaten 26 from 21 balls with two fours and a six.

Sangakkara made 66 for the opening wicket with Ahmed Shahzad (27) and then 42 for an unbeaten second wicket with Sohaib.

The only wicket, Multan lost, was taken by left-arm spinner Hasan Khan.

Multan Sultans has now joined Karachi Kings at the top of the table with seven points, while Quetta Gladiators, having won just two of their five games, dropped down to fifth place with four points.

Earlier, devastating bowling by left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir and a marvelous hat-trick by leg-spinner Imran Tahir bundeled out Quetta Gladiators for a mere 102 runs in 15.4 overs.

After being sent into bat, Quetta made a good start but soon the Multan pacers began to dominate the scene, taking wickets at regular interval.

However, captain Sarfraz Ahmed provided some resistance, making 30 off 33 balls with three fours while only two other batsmen – Shane Watson (19) and Mahmudullah (15) could get into the double figures.

Sohail Tanvir captured three wickets for 14 and Junaid Khan grabbed two for nine. But it was Imran Tahir who destroyed the Gladiators batting line by claiming a hat-trick. He became the third bowler after Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan to bag a hat-trick in the PSL-3.

Quetta lost their last five wickets off seven balls for just one run.