Sultans eye PSL play-offs in clash against Quetta Gladiators

DUBAI: Pakistan Super League’s newest franchise Multan Sultans seeks one step in the play-offs if they beat twice runners-up Quetta Gladiators in the only match in Dubai on Wednesday.

The 5.2 million dollars per year team has won four of their six matches with one rained off and if they win again against Sarfraz Ahmed led team then they will be almost through to the play-offs considering Lahore can only go to ten points if they win all their remaining five matches and cannot catch the Sohainb Malik led team sitting pretty on nine points.

Karachi Kings are places second with seven points in five games.

Multan has been showing a lot of balance in both batting and bowling departments, smashing the highest total of the league so far of 183-3 against title holders Peshawar Zalmi on Tuesday night.

Pakistan discard Sohaib Maqsood smashed the highest individual score of 85 off just 42 balls with seven sixes and four boundaries while Sohail Tanveer and Kieron Pollard shared six wickets to lead an impressive 19-run win.

On the other hand Quetta have just four points from their five matches and will not afford any hiccups against Sultans, against whom they lost the first match by a big nine wicket margin in Sharjah.

Quetta will welcome the return of Kevin Pietersen who had gone to India and on his return missed the last game due to tiredness. Asad Shafiq’s axing also does not suit Quetta, which fell for 102 against Multan for whom leg spinner Imran Tahir achieved a hat trick in that clash.

Toss will again be of crucial value as dew in the evening makes life tough for bowlers, despite the fact that Multan bowled superbly against Peshawar.