Multan Sultans’ Rizwan, Charles, and bowlers Secure First Place

In the final league game of the season, Multan Sultans defeated Quetta Gladiators by a commanding 79 runs. It secured their first-place ranking in the standings and guaranteeing them two chances to advance to the PSL 2024 playoffs. A strong batting display spearheaded by half-centurions Johnson Charles and Muhammad Rizwan propelled the team to 185 before the bowlers grabbed control and soundly defeated the opposition in front of their own post-league elimination match.

Mohammed Amir dismissed Yasir Khan, the Sultans’ first batsman  for an erroneous pull shot. However,  Rizwan and Usman Khan maintained a strong powerplay score of 43 , largely because of a 17-run fifth over against Abrar Ahmed. With a flatter delivery that slipped off the surface and pinged the batter’s pads in front of the stumps, the leggie retaliated and dismissed Usman Khan. The Sultans were still making modest progress at 70/2 at the halfway point of the innings.

After Charles joined Rizwan, the two quickly generated momentum, with each batsman hitting a six in the next two overs.
As Rizwan was on his way to yet another half-century, Charles assumed control and forcefully hit Usman Tariq for a six over deep mid-wicket. He then displayed his skill by dabbing a cut past point for four. After reaching his milestone, Rizwan blasted another six. But Amir bowled out  him for 69 from 47 balls while trying to loft him off-cut. But in the next over, Charles punished Tariq even more. He smashed the mysterious spinner for two more fours and a six.

On the same field where Peshawar had defended 147, the West Indian reached a 27-ball half-century and was brilliantly assisted at the end by a cameo from Iftikhar Ahmed as the Sultans amassed 77 in the final six overs to pose a formidable 185 just the previous night.
And as the Gladiators’ pursuit soon came to an end, it turned out to be an over-par objective. After failing to make a pull shot, Jason Roy was dismissed LBW by fellow countryman David Willey. This dismissal resulted in a heated exchange of words between Roy and the Sultan fielders. Saud Shakeel got run-out in the same over while attempting to find a legbye that wasn’t there.

After the powerplay ended, Willey’s stunning yorker had knocked over Rilee Rossouw, putting the Gladiators down three. After that, they never bounced back, even after Omair Yousuf fined them 37. The Gladiators were all out in 16 overs thanks to Usama Mir’s three-wicket haul and Willey’s own three-wicket effort. It helped finish off the bottom order.

On Thursday, March 14, the Sultans will play Peshawar Zalmi in the first qualifying match, and the Gladiators will play Islamabad United in the Eliminator match the following evening.