LAHORE: Defending champion Multan Sultans recorded the second-highest total in the history of Pakistan Super League to set up a record-breaking 117-run win over Quetta Gladiators on Friday.
Led by captain Mohammad Rizwan’s (83 not out) fifth half-century this season and a whopping 71 off just 26 balls from Rilee Rossouw, Multan racked up 245-3 after Rizwan had won the toss and opted to bat first.
The total fell just short of Islamabad United’s PSL record total of 247-2 against Peshawar Zalmi at Abu Dhabi last year.
Quetta folded meekly for 128 in 15.5 overs against the pace and spin of Multan with Umar Akmal scoring a rapid 23-ball 50 while Jason Roy (38) and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (17 not out) were the only other batters to reach double figures.
Fast bowlers Shahnawaz Dahani and David Willey finished with identical figures of 2-22 while left-arm spinners Khushdil Shah and Asif Afridi also picked up two wickets apiece.
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Ruthless Multan held the previous record of largest victory in the PSL when they beat Quetta by 110 at Abu Dhabi last year.
Multan’s impressive run in the tournament continued as they’ve lost only one game out of nine and have 16 points. Quetta are in the bottom half of the table with six points from nine games with just one game remaining against last-place Karachi Kings on Sunday.
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The in-form opening pair of Rizwan and Shan Masood, who made 57, laid the foundation of a big total with a century-stand in the first 10 overs.
South Africa’s left-hander Rossouw then hit boundaries at will after Masood was trapped leg before wicket in the 12th over by tall Pakistan international fast bowler Mohammad Irfan in his first PSL game this season.
Rossouw smashed nine fours and four sixes and Multan blasted 81 runs off the last five overs against expensive fast bowlers Sohail Tanvir (0-52) and Ghulam Mudassar (1-56). Spinner Noor Ahmed was also not spared, finishing with 0-52.
In the later game, Lahore Qalandars face a Karachi Kings team led by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam but who are still searching for their first win after losing eight consecutive games.
