Clinical Sultans thump Gladiators in one-sided encounter

Multan Sultans returned to winning ways with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators in the 13th match of HBL PSL 2026, thanks to Mohammad Nawaz’s three-wicket haul and crucial knocks from Steve Smith (53) and Shan Masood (46*).

Chasing a modest 167 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night, the Sultans made a flying start as openers Sahibzada Farhan and Smith raced to 71 in just five overs before Farhan was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph for 32.

The Sultans suffered another setback an over later as Josh Philippe fell victim to Saud Shakeel after scoring a 15-ball 18.

With the scoreboard reading 96 in eight overs, Shan Masood joined Steven Smith and the pair stitched a brisk 40-run partnership to bring the Sultans within touching distance of victory before the latter was dismissed by Hasan Nawaz in the 14th over.

Smith scored 53 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and a six. Shan then steered the Sultans over the line in the 18th over with an unbeaten 46 off 30 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes.

For Quetta, Hasan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-17 in two overs, while Alzarri Joseph and captain Saud Shakeel claimed one wicket each.

First inning

After being put into bat by Sultans’ captain Ashton Turner, the Gladiators got off to a shaky start as they lost both their openers Khawaja Nafay (12) and Shamyl Hussain (2) inside the first three overs with just 15 runs on the board.

Following the early setbacks, Hasan Nawaz (20) joined captain Saud Shakeel and the duo attempted to rebuild the innings with a steady 55-run partnership for the third wicket.

Minhas struck again in the 10th over to dismiss Rilee Rossouw (1), reducing the Gladiators to 72/4.

Saud, however, held firm and added another crucial 47-run stand for the fifth wicket with Jacobs before falling to Mohammad Nawaz on the first delivery of the 17th over after scoring 56 off 41 balls, which included six fours and a six.

Nawaz dealt another blow in the same over by removing Tom Curran, who managed just one off three deliveries.

Jacobs, meanwhile, batted till the end but narrowly missed out on a half-century, remaining unbeaten on 49 off 31 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes.

Nawaz led the Sultans’ bowling effort with figures of 3-30 in four overs, while Minhas picked up two wickets and captain Turner chipped in with one.