On Thursday, the Quetta Gladiators put on a remarkable superlative show. They knocked the Multan Sultans for a mere 89 runs in just 17 overs! This latest loss exposes even more cracks in Multan’s foundation so far this season. They have lost six of their past seven games now and are in the relegation zone at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Khurram Shahzad was the pick of the Gladiators bowlers, taking 4 wickets for only 23 runs. His spell sledgehammered a tenuous batting order from Multan, their top-order failing to build any real stands. The Sultans’ top order faced significant challenges. Opener Mohammad Rizwan managed to bat through the innings, scoring 44 runs off 44 balls, but his lone effort was insufficient to salvage his team’s total.
The two main players, Usman Khan and Michael Bracewell, could do little – each out without scoring a run. David Willey managed just seven runs before being out. The failures of the middle-order batsmen were magnified too, with Usama Mir contributing a paltry 11 runs from number nine. It was the absence of runs from the batting order that finally proved costly and got them out rather quickly.
The Quetta Gladiators were very impressive, very efficient in their chase. To knock them off, they had to do it in more than 6.5 overs! Finn Allen was central to the chase, ending 45 not out. Saud Shakeel joined him in good fashion, ending not out at 42 runs. Their partnership helped seal a quick end to the match, making it all the more symbolic of the issues that plagued Multan all season long.
With this defeat, Multan Sultans are left reeling, reflecting on their poor performance and seeking answers as they work to improve in the remaining matches of the season. That team will have to be rekindled and rejuvenated if they wish to feel nothing but joy in this upcoming season.
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