Quetta Gladiators crash out of PSL 2021 after 110-run loss against Multan Sultans

Quetta Gladiators' dream of winning a second Pakistan Super League title was snuffed out on Wednesday after a defeat against the Multan Sultans in match 25 of the Pakistan Super League's sixth edition at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Imran Khan Snr gave his team a good start as he took the important wickets of Jake Weatherald (19) and Cameron Delport (0) in the fourth over.

In the sixth over, a mix up between Sarfaraz Ahmed and Usman Khan put Quetta three down.

An over later, Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani removed Azam Khan to push Quetta further down.

Quetta thought they had hope till their captain was standing at the crease but Sarfaraz was sent back to the pavilion in the ninth over when he was caught by Imran Tahir in Sohail Tanvir's over.

Tahir was then asked to bowl the 10th over of the match. The South African delivered for his team, bowling a triple wicket maiden to shatter Quetta's dream of winning their second PSL title.

Tahir, in his over, dismissed Mohammad Nawaz, Hassan Khan and Khurram Shahzad.

And in the 12th, he took the wicket of Usman Shinwari to put Quetta nine down.

In the next over Shahnawaz Dahani took the final wicket of Quetta to dismiss the Gladiators for 73.

The 73 runs made by Quetta was the second-lowest total in PSL history, after Lahore Qalandar's 59 in 2017 against Peshawar Zalmi.

The Sultans won the match by 110 runs. 

Multan Sultans' innings

Earlier, the Multan Sultans had set a 184-run target for Quetta Gladiators.

The Gladiators were able to get a much-needed breakthrough when Khurram Shahzad dismissed Sultans' skipper Mohammad Rizwan for 21 runs in the 9th over, while Zahir Khan got the second wicket of Sohaib Maqsood for five runs in the 10th over.

Hassan Khan was able to get the key wicket of Shan Masood (73) in the 14th over, while Rilee Rossouw (2) was sent back to the pavilion by Mohammad Nawaz.

However, despite the setbacks, the Sultans kept the scoreboard ticking, with some good shots from Johnson Charles (47) till Shahzad dismissed him in the 18th over.

Before the start pf the match, the Gladiators had won the toss and invited the Sultans to bat first.

Squads

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Asif Afridi, Hammad Azam, Imran Tahir, Imran Khan Snr, Johnson Charles, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Umar, Blessing Muzarabani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rilee Rossouw, Shahnawaz Dhani, Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohaibullah, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir and Muhammad Waseem.

Quetta Gladiators: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Abdul Nasir, Arish Ali Khan, Azam Khan, Cameron Delport, Hassan Khan, Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Usman Shinwari, Zahid Mahmood and Zahir Khan