Lahore, April 29, 2025:
Quetta Gladiators ended their seven-match losing streak against Multan Sultans – dating back to March 3, 2021 – in an emphatic fashion, registering a clinical 10-wicket victory in the 18th match of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Quetta’s fast bowler Khurram Shahzad delivered a stellar performance with figures of 4-0-23-4. Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Faheem Ashraf chipped in with two wickets apiece as Multan, needing a win to stay alive in the tournament, collapsed to a dismal 89 all out in 17 overs on a seamer-friendly surface.
In reply, Quetta openers Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel made light work of the chase, cruising to victory in just 41 balls. Allen smashed two fours and five sixes in a 21-ball blitz, while captain Saud struck three fours and four sixes in a 20-ball innings.
The dominant win propelled Quetta Gladiators to second place on the table with four wins from six matches. In contrast, Multan Sultans were all but eliminated after their sixth loss. Even if remaining results favour them, their net run-rate of -2.355 significantly hampers their chances. Peshawar Zalmi, currently fifth with two wins from six games, have a better net run-rate of -0.847, while Karachi Kings sit fourth with three wins and a net run-rate of -0.217.
Multan’s remaining fixtures are against Karachi Kings (May 1), Peshawar Zalmi (May 5), and Quetta Gladiators (May 11). Peshawar face Islamabad United (May 2), Karachi Kings (May 8) and Lahore Qalandars (May 9). Karachi Kings’ upcoming matches include ties against Multan Sultans and Zalmi, as well as Lahore Qalandars (May 4) and Islamabad United (May 10).
Tuesday’s defeat marked Multan’s heaviest in terms of balls remaining. With 79 balls left in the match, they surpassed the previous record held by Quetta, who lost to Islamabad United in 2021 with 60 balls to spare. In its history, that has seen it reach four consecutive finals this decade, Sultans had never lost by more than 20 balls to spare.
After being sent in to bat, Multan faltered from the outset. Khurram Shahzad’s incisive seam bowling wreaked havoc in the PowerPlay, with all four of his wickets coming in that phase.
Yasir Khan and Usman Khan holed out to mid-on in his opening over, while Kamran Ghulam edged to second slip and Curtis Campher was trapped LBW in Khurram’s second over, leaving Multan reeling at 20 for four in 3.5 overs.
Faheem Ashraf then struck twice in six balls, removing Iftikhar Ahmed and Michael Bracewell to reduce Multan to 43 for six in 9.2 overs. Mohammad Wasim Jnr wrapped up the tail, dismissing David Willey and last-man Ubaid Khan, while Usama Mir and Mohammad Hasnain were run-out between those dismissals.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan carried his bat, scoring a run-a-ball 44 with three fours and a six.
Scores in Brief
HBL PSL 2025 Match 18 – Quetta Gladiators beat Multan Sultans by 10 wickets
Multan Sultans – 89 all out, 17 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 44 not out; Khurram Shahzad 4-23, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-18, Faheem Ashraf 2-21)
Quetta Gladiators – 90/0, 6.5 overs (Finn Allen 45 not out, Saud Shakeel 42 not out)Player of the Match – Khurram Shahzad (Quetta Gladiators)
