PSL 08, MUL vs QUE: Usman Khan and Abbas Afridi Star In Multan's Narrow Win Over Quetta Gladiators
Usman Khan celebrating his hundred with Mohammad Rizwan [Source: Twitter]
The 28th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League saw Multan Sultans edge past Quetta Gladiators by nine runs in a high-scoring face-off, courtesy of a magnificent hundred from Usman Khan and a sensational fifer from Abbas Afridi. With this emphatic win, the Sultans took their tally to 12 points in the PSL standings.
Usman Khan's belligerent knock propels Multan to a mammoth total
Usman Khan hammered 120 runs off just 43 balls [Source: Twitter]
After being put into bat, Multan Sultans got off to an incredible start, as Usman Khan and Mohammad Rizwan stitched a massive opening stand of 157 runs.
While Usman had a dream outing, recording the fastest hundred in the tournament's history, skipper Rizwan hammered six fours and two sixes on his way through to a quick-fire 29-ball 55.
After their departure, the swashbuckling duo of Tim David and Kieron Pollard ensured a fitting finish for the Sultans, adding 58 runs for the fourth wicket. Pollard scored a 14-ball 23*, while David smashed four huge sixes for his 25-ball 43*.
For the Gladiators, although Qais Ahmed scalped two wickets, he conceded 77 runs in his four-over spell.
Abbas Afridi's fifer seizes the day for Multan Sultans
Abbas Afridi claimed five wickets [Source: Twitter]
Chasing a massive target of 263, Quetta Gladiators had no other option besides attacking from the word go. Although Jason Roy departed early, Martin Guptill and Omair Yousuf came out with all guns blazing, adding 46 runs before the former was dismissed by Ihsanullah.
The experienced Mohammad Hafeez recorded a failure, falling prey to Abbas Afridi. However, Yousuf continued his onslaught on the Sultans' bowlers, getting ample support from Iftikhar Ahmed at the other end.
But Multan's reliable pace duo of Ihsanullah and Abbas Afridi swung the game in their favour by removing both these set batters in quick succession.
Although Umar Akmal struck a few maximums, his 28-run cameo could only reduce the deficit as the Gladiators finished on 253 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Abbas Afridi was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball for Multan, registering an impressive fifer, including a hat-trick, on a batters' paradise.
Brief Scores
Multan Sultans: 262/3 (20)
Usman Khan 120 (43), Mohammad Rizwan 55 (29);
Qais Ahmed 2/77 (4), Mohammad Nawaz 1/50 (4)
Quetta Gladiators: 253/8 (20)
Omair Yousuf 67 (36), Iftikhar Ahmed 53 (31);
Abbas Afridi 5/47 (4), Ihsanullah 2/58 (4)
Multan Sultans won by nine runs.
 "Debashis Sarangi")
