That's all the action we have for you from the PSL today, folks. Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to join us again tomorrow as the Multan Sultans return to face off against the Rawalpindiz. Until then, this is Rashad Mahbub, signing off on behalf of Ranjith P and Harshith Gowda. Bye-bye!
Ashton Turner: "These were slightly different conditions than we've faced in the last two games, but we've been searching for a performance where we could put both facets of the game together. I feel like we actually did that with all three facets tonight, which was really satisfying. [Starting with two spinners] I was probably going to bowl the first one regardless, but we expected two left-handers at the top of the order. Fair play to them [Gladiators]; they changed their order up, but we saw early on that one or two balls gripped enough to keep us interested. We've probably underutilised our finger spin in the power play, so if the conditions suit, it's a great option for us. It's nice because we know we have fast bowlers who can operate in those first six, but having other options makes my life easier. [Australian reunion here] It's part of it, but at the base of it, we just have good people. We have great overseas players from Australia who have joined the squad, but we also have fantastic domestic players and local support staff. There's a great feel among the group at the moment, and you're seeing that reflected on the field. Guys are playing with smiles on their faces and playing good cricket. [Tomorrow's game] I might go find a blanket and a pillow and sleep here tonight because it is a pretty quick turnaround! But look, that's the professional game; we know the schedule is like this, and we're looking forward to another opportunity to play."
Player of the Match: Mohammad Nawaz
10:08 pm Smith set a blistering tempo for the chase right from the start, hitting a six and two fours off Joseph in the opening over. With 31 runs coming from the first two, Smith then hammered four consecutive boundaries against Tom Curran in the third over. The opening stand reached 71 runs, then Farhan, on 32 runs off 14 balls, miscued a slog stroke to short third man in the sixth over. Already a bowler short after Daniyal was stretchered off with a hamstring injury, the Gladiators found no relief as the powerplay onslaught left the men in purple struggling. By the end of the first six overs, the Sultans had raced to 83 runs, bringing the required rate down to just six runs per over. Smith reached his half-century off 29 balls and looked set to stay, though he was eventually dismissed for 53 by the part-timer Nawaz, thanks to a brilliant piece of teamwork on the boundary by Rossouw and substitute fielder Saqib. Shan Masood maintained his excellent form with the bat at the other end, striking several powerful blows to ensure his side reached the target comfortably. Masood finished unbeaten on 46 runs from 30 deliveries. Post-match coverage is coming up shortly; stay with us.
Multan Sultans won by 6 wickets
3 runs needed off 18 balls. Here's Joseph.
END OF OVER:17 | 8 Runs | MS: 164/4 (3 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.64, RRR: 1.00)
- Ashton Turner4 (3b)
- Shan Masood43 (27b)
- Tom Curran2-0-24-0
- Hasan Nawaz2-0-17-2
