PSL 8: Sultans' Ihsanullah, Rossouw wrap up comfortable victory over Gladiators
Cricket
Rossouw played whirlwind knock
MULTAN (Web Desk) – Ihsanullah’s five-wicket haul and Rilee Rossouw’s blistering 42-ball 78 stormed the Multan Sultans to nine-wicket victory over the Quetta Gladiators in the third match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 111, Sultans lost Shan Masood, who scored 5-ball 3. But after the early hiccup, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw were not providing any space to the Gladiators’ bowlers.
Rizwan scored unbeaten 34-ball 28, studded with two fours. He allowed Rossouw to play cricket in his natural style. Following the directions of Rizwan, Rossouw played a scintillating knock, scoring unbeaten 42-ball 78, clobbered three sixes and nine fours.
The duo helped the Sultans sweep past the Gladiators in the 14th over, scoring 111-1.
For the Gladiators, Nuwan Thushara (1-21), was the only successful bowler and bagged one wicket. All other bowlers were wicketless, including Naseem Shah (0-6), Mohammad Hasnain (0-29), Mohammad Hafeez (0-15), Mohammad Nawaz (0-28), and Iftikhar Ahmed (0-10).
Earlier, the Sultans’ decision to send the Gladiators in to bat proved correct, as the Gladiators’ batters were rarely looked comfortable and bundled out for 110.
Jason Roy had a start, but he saw his partners making their way to the pavilion, so he was undone by Ihsanullah on 18-ball 27 and smashed three boundaries and a sixer. It was tail-ender Mohammad Hasnain, who looked good for his 20-ball 22, studded with two boundaries and a sixer.
Mohammad Hafeez also showed some resistance, but he arrived on the wicket too late. He departed on 15-ball 18, clobbered a boundary and a six.
Mohammad Nawaz and Umar Akmal scored 14 (18) and 11 (17), respectively.
Martin Guptill was removed by Sameen Gul on 6-ball 7. Abbas Afridi got better of Abdul Bangalzai, who scored merely 1-ball 6.
Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed was bowled by Ihsanullah on 7-ball 2.
The Sultans’ bowling attack was inspired by Ihsanullah (5-12), who gave no room to the Gladiators’ batters and bagged five wickets. He also bowled a tidy spell with an economy rate of 3.00.
Ihsanullah was ably supported by Sameen Gul (2-20), Abbas Afridi (2-27), and Usama Mir (1-19).
— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) February 15, 2023
Earlier, Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to field first against Quetta Gladiators in the third match of the domestic premium tournament.
Multan Sultans XI: Mohammad Rizwan(c & wk), Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Akeal Hosein, Usama Mir, Sameen Gul, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah
Quetta Gladiators XI: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Jason Roy, Wahid Bagulzai, Martin Guptill, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Nuwan Thushara
— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) February 15, 2023
