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| Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith broke the back of the chase |
Under the bright lights of Gaddafi Stadium, the message from Multan Sultans was loud and clear — they are not just contenders, they are table-toppers for a reason.
Chasing a modest 167, the Sultans didn’t just win — they dominated.
A Chase That Felt Over Before It Began
From the very first over, Steven Smith and Sahibzada Farhan came out with fearless intent. What followed was pure carnage.
The duo smashed 63 runs in just four overs, bringing up a lightning-fast fifty partnership in only 3.2 overs. By the end of the powerplay, Multan were cruising at 83 for 1, matching their own record for the highest powerplay total this season.
At that moment, the result already felt inevitable.
Smith, playing with elegance and authority, notched up his maiden PSL half-century, while Farhan’s explosive cameo set the perfect tone for the chase.
Spin Web Sets the Foundation
Earlier, it was Multan’s spin attack that quietly won them the game.
With conditions favoring batting, the decision to bowl spin from both ends raised a few eyebrows. But it turned out to be a masterstroke.
Mohammad Nawaz led the charge with three crucial wickets, while Arafat Minhas delivered a brilliant spell, picking up two wickets and breaking the backbone of Quetta’s innings.
Despite a fighting 56 from Saud Shakeel and an unbeaten 49 by Bevon Jacobs, the Gladiators struggled to accelerate consistently. Their total of 166 for 7 always looked slightly under par on a batting-friendly surface.
A Calm Finish After the Storm
After the explosive start, Multan shifted gears smoothly.
Shan Masood played the anchor role to perfection, guiding the chase with a composed unbeaten 46. Even when Smith fell to a sharp relay catch near the boundary, there was no panic.
The Sultans simply kept the scoreboard ticking — rotating strike, finding gaps, and finishing the job with clinical ease in 17.3 overs.
Gladiators Fight, But Fall Short
To their credit, Quetta Gladiators did show flashes of resistance.
A crucial partnership between Shakeel and Hasan Nawaz steadied the innings after early setbacks. Later, Jacobs and a quick cameo from Daniyal pushed the total past 160 — giving their bowlers something to defend.
But against a batting lineup in this kind of form, it was never going to be enough.
Back Where They Belong
With this convincing six-wicket win, Multan Sultans climb back to the top of the PSL 2026 points table — a statement of intent to the rest of the league.
A perfect blend of smart spin bowling, explosive batting, and calm finishing — this was a complete performance.
And if this match is anything to go by, the Sultans are not just aiming for wins… they’re building momentum for something much bigger.
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