Multan Sultans condemn Rawalpindiz to eighth straight loss in in PSL 11

Multan Sultans delivered a commanding all-round performance to defeat Rawalpindiz by six wickets in the 31st match of the Pakistan Super League Season 11 at National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a competitive target of 166, the 2021 champions reached 167/4 with eight balls to spare, thanks to a match-winning half-century by Steven Smith and a composed finish from captain Ashton Turner.

The Sultans’ innings began on a shaky note as opener Sahibzada Farhan fell early for 20, leaving the side at 29/1 in the fourth over. Smith initially adopted a cautious approach but soon accelerated, stitching together a crucial 69-run partnership with Josh Philippe for the second wicket.

Smith led the charge with a fluent 56 off 31 balls, hitting five boundaries and three sixes, while Philippe contributed a steady 17 off 19 deliveries. However, both batters were dismissed in quick succession, momentarily halting the momentum.

With the score at 100/3, vice-captain Shan Masood joined Turner, and the pair built a vital 57-run stand to steer the Sultans closer to victory. Masood scored 20 before falling in the penultimate over, but Turner remained unbeaten on 37 off 21 balls, guiding his team home alongside Arafat Minhas.

For Rawalpindiz, Asif Afridi was the standout bowler with figures of 2/28, while Razaullah and Saad Masood claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Rawalpindiz posted 166/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Their innings got off to a poor start, losing Shahzaib Khan and Yasir Khan within the first two overs with just six runs on the board.

A recovery effort was led by Daryl Mitchell and skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who added 63 runs for the third wicket. Rizwan scored 26 before being dismissed, while Mitchell anchored the innings with an unbeaten 58 off 46 balls.

Mitchell also shared a 52-run partnership with Sam Billings, who contributed a quick 29. Late in the innings, Dian Forrester provided a powerful boost with a blistering 37 off just 15 balls, helping Rawalpindiz reach a competitive total.

For the Sultans, Mohammad Imran, Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Arafat Minhas picked up one wicket each.

The victory strengthens Multan Sultans’ position in the tournament standings as they continue their strong campaign in PSL 11.