SHARJAH: Two-time HBL Pakistan Super League runners-up Quetta Gladiators left the Sharjah Cricket Stadium clueless on Saturday after an Imran Tahir hat-trick hurried them to a nine-wicket drubbing against Multan Sultans.

Quetta’s second straight defeat was as a result of chaotic batting performance that resulted in them bowled out inside 16 overs for only 102 — the lowest team score in this edition thus far.

Tahir, the Lahore-born South African spinner, was instrumental in sending Quetta reeling from 92-4 in the 13th over by dismissing Hassaan Khan, John Hastings and Rahat Ali off successive deliveries to end the innings.

Tahir emulated team-mate Junaid Khan, who took a hat-trick against Lahore Qalandars in Dubai last week, before finishing with three for 19 in 2.4 overs. But despite his heroics the man-of-the-match award went to Pakistan discard Sohail Tanvir as the left-arm seamer claimed three wickets in the middle overs to prevent Quetta from reaching a decent total.

Sarfraz Ahmed, who promoted himself to No 4 in the absence of Kevin Pietersen, top-scored with 30. The Pakistan skipper’s 33-ball innings included three boundaries and dismissal, holing out to Sohaib Maqsood, was a key factor in his side losing the final five wickets for just one run in seven balls.

Multan were in no hurry as Kumar Sangakkara and Ahmed Shehzad strolled to 66 before Shehzad needles­sly got out to Hassaan for 27.

Sangakkara, however, was got going to miss out on another substantial. The retired Sri Lankan legend brought up his half century, making 51 from 44 balls with the aid of five fours and one six.

Sohaib brought Quetta’s misery to conclusion when he smashed Sarfraz, who had come on to bowl, straight into the stands to finish on 26 not out.

Multan’s third win put them on level with Karachi Kings with each side having secured seven points after their fixture was washed out on Friday. Quetta, having won just two of their five games, drop down to fifth place and are stuck on four points.

Scoreboard

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Umar Amin c Irfan b Sohail 8
S.R. Watson c Sohaib b Junaid 19
Rameez Raja b Junaid 1
Sarfraz Ahmed c Sohaib b Sohail 30
R.R. Rossouw st Sangakkara b Malik 9
Mahmudullah c Sangakkara b Irfan 15
Mohammad Nawaz c Pollard b Sohail 3
Hassaan Khan b Imran 0
Anwar Ali not out 1
J.W. Hastings b Imran 0
Rahat Ali lbw b Imran 0

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-13, NB-1) 16

TOTAL (all out, 15.4 overs) 102

FALL OF WKTS: 1-27, 2-28, 3-46, 4-69, 5-92, 6-101, 7-101, 8-102, 9-102.

BOWLING: Mohammad Irfan 4-0-27-1 (1w); Sohail Tanvir 3-0-14-3 (1nb, 1w); Junaid Khan 2-0-9-2; Imran Tahir 2.4-0-19-3 (2w); Shoaib Malik 2-0-19-1; Pollard 2-0-12-0 (1w).

MULTAN SULTANS:

K.C. Sangakkara not out 51
A. Shehzad c Hastings b Hassaan 27
Sohaib Maqsood not out 26

EXTRAS (W-4) 4

TOTAL (for one wkt, 16.4 overs) 108

FALL OF WKT: 1-66.

DID NOT BAT: D.M. Bravo, Shoaib Malik, K.A. Pollard, Saif Badar, Sohail Tanvir, Junaid Khan, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Irfan.

BOWLING: Rahat Ali 3-0-24-0 (2w); Watson 1-0-6-0 (1w); Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-17-0; Hastings 2-0-16-0; Hassaan Khan 3-0-25-1; Anwar Ali 2-0-8-0; Mahmudullah 1-0-6-0; Sarfraz Ahmed 0.4-0-6-0.

RESULT: Multan Sultans won by nine wickets.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Ahmed Shahab (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: Shozab Raza (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Sohail Tanvir.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2018