LAHORE: The numbers Islamabad United — and Quetta Gladiators — wanted to know were flashed just before the start of Multan Sultans’ innings.

If they prevented the rampant Sultans from reaching the paltry 106-run target they had set in 3.5 overs, United would be assured of a playoff spot in this season’s HBL Pakistan Super League.

They knew they’d done just enough in their final round robin fixture at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday. It was more about damage limitation than getting a win.

United’s progress into the final four, and the Gladiators’ fate, was sealed when the Sultans reached 17-2 after 3.5 overs.

It came as a relief for a stricken United side missing several of their big-name players.

But with the Sultans on the ropes, it was a chance for their fringe players to grab a morale-boosting win for their side and perhaps give themselves a chance of finishing third in the table after the last match of the league stage is played on Monday.

Liam Dawson’s double strike in the third over, dismissing Shan Masood and Aamer Azmat had given them a sniff. Dawson got his third wicket in his next over, sending back Khushdil Shah and the Sultans were 18-3.

But Tim David then smashed a six and two boundaries in his 12-ball 17 to put top-of-the-table Sultans back on track.

After David’s departure, Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan (51 not out) and David Willey (28 not out) made it nine wins out of 10 for the holders.

United had Musa Khan to thank for putting up 105-7 on the board. Musa’s chancy 26 helped them past 100 with a towering six of the final ball of their innings after the Sultans had reduced them to 77-7.

It was a dismal batting performance from them as apart from Musa, only Dawson (22) and opener Nasir Nawaz (14) were able to reach double figures.

Asif Ali, their stand-in captain in place of Shadab Khan, could only get nine runs while Azam Khan could only make eight despite the Sultans, already assured of top spot, giving eight of their players a chance to bowl.

United, though, will hope that their top players are back for the playoffs. But they’ll have to do it the hard way if they are to lift a third PSL title.

Scoreboard

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

Batters & mode of dismissals R B 4s 6s SR

Nasir Nawaz c Willey b Tahir 14 17 0 0 82.35

Mohammad Huraira c Rossouw b Asif 2 8 0 0 25.00

Liam Dawson c Asif b Willey 22 11 5 0 200.00

Azam Khan c Shan b Shahnawaz 8 18 0 0 44.44

Danish Aziz c Khushdil b David 6 15 0 0 40.00

Asif Ali c Shan b Asif 9 12 1 0 75.00

Zafar Gohar c David b Tahir 9 9 0 0 100.00

Muhammad Musa not out 26 21 2 2 123.80

Zahid Mahmood not out 3 9 0 0 33.33

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-3) 6

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 105

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-9 (Huraira), 2-36 (Dawson), 3-45 (Nasir), 4-52 (Azam), 5-64 (Asif), 6-69 (Danish), 7-77 (Zafar).

DID NOT BAT: Marchant de Lange, Athar Mahmood

BOWLING: Asif 4-1-21-2, Willey 2-0-9-1, Rumman 3-0-23-0, Shahnawaz 3-0-19-1, Tahir 4-0-8-2 (1w), Aamer 1-0-3-0 (1w), David 1-0-4-1 (1w), Khushdil 2-0-15-0.

MULTAN SULTANS

Batters & mode of dismissals R B 4s 6s SR

Shan Masood st Azam b Dawson 4 9 0 0 44.44

Mohammad Rizwan not out 51 42 2 1 121.42

Aamer Azmat b Dawson 4 3 1 0 133.33

Khushdil Shah c Asif b Dawson 2 6 0 0 33.33

Tim David c Nasir b Zahid 17 12 2 1 141.66

David Willey not out 28 32 1 1 87.50

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-3) 6

TOTAL (for four wickets, 17.2 overs) 111

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-10 (Shan), 2-14 (Aamer), 3-18 (Khushdil), 4-43 (David).

DID NOT BAT: Rilee Rossouw, Asif Afridi, Rumman Raees, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani.

BOWLING: Dawson 4-0-16-3, Athar 3-0-21-0, Zafar 3-0-21-0 (1w), Zahid 4-0-20-1, de Lange 3-0-23-0, Danish 0.2-0-6-0.

RESULT: Multan Sultans won by six wickets.

UMPIRES: Michael Gough (England) and Rashid Riaz (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2022