Smith, Masood Guide Multan Sultans to Comfortable Win

Multan Sultans secured a controlled six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2026, with Steven Smith and Shan Masood anchoring the chase. Smith’s maiden PSL half-century proved decisive as Multan chased down 167 with composure at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Sultans finished on 167 for 4, comfortably overhauling Quetta’s 166 for 7.

Explosive start sets up the chase

The outcome of the match was shaped early in the chase, as Steven Smith and Sahibzada Farhan gave Multan Sultans a flying start.

The pair added 63 runs in just four overs, bringing up their fifty partnership in only 3.2 overs. By the end of the powerplay, Sultans had raced to 83 for 1, equalling their own record for most runs in the first six overs this season.

Smith led the charge with a fluent 53, putting the target firmly within reach.

Masood anchors the middle overs

With the required rate under control, Shan Masood played a steady role in the middle order, finishing unbeaten on 46.

After Smith’s dismissal following a relay catch involving Saqib Khan and Rilee Rossouw, Masood ensured there were no late complications. He rotated strike effectively and added timely boundaries to guide Sultans home without pressure.

Spin dominates Quetta innings

Earlier, Multan Sultans’ strategy to rely heavily on spin proved effective despite the batting-friendly conditions.

They bowled 16 overs of spin, conceding only 91 runs and taking all six wickets through their spinners. Mohammad Nawaz led the effort with 3 for 30, while Arafat Minhas delivered an economical spell of 2 for 14 in four overs.

Quetta Gladiators struggled early as Khawaja Nafay and Shamyl Hussain were dismissed within the first 2.1 overs.

Shakeel steadies, late push lifts total

Saud Shakeel played a key role in rebuilding the innings with a composed 56 off 41 balls. He shared a 55-run stand with Hasan Nawaz to stabilise the innings after early setbacks.

After Nawaz was stumped by Josh Phillippe off Arafat Minhas, Quetta lost momentum again. However, Bevon Jacobs provided a late boost with an unbeaten 49 off 31 balls.

Ahmed Daniyal added a quick 22 off 9 balls before leaving the field with a hamstring issue, helping Quetta reach 166 for 7.

What this means

Multan Sultans’ victory highlights the effectiveness of combining aggressive starts with controlled middle-order batting, along with a well-executed spin strategy.

For Quetta Gladiators, the defeat underlines the impact of early wickets and the challenge of containing strong powerplay batting, despite a competitive total.

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