PSL 2026: Smith, Masood take Sultans to convincing victory

Match Overview

Steve Smith’s well-compiled half-century and disciplined bowling effort secured a clinical six-wicket win for Multan Sultans against Quetta Gladiators at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in PSL 2026.

After inviting Quetta to bat first, Sultans restricted them to a par total of 166 for 7, with the left-arm spin duo of Mohammad Nawaz and Arafat Minhas bagging five wickets for just 44 runs in their eight overs combined.

Quetta were rocked early as Nawaz trapped Khawaja Nafay lbw and Ashton Turner got Shamyl Hussain caught cheaply before captain Saud Shakeel (56 off 41) and Hasan Nawaz (20 off 22) staged a recovery with a 55-run partnership for the third wicket.

The stand was broken when Minhas had Nawaz stumped and pushed them further on the back foot by dismissing Rilee Rossouw in the same over. Shakeel and Bevon Jacobs held the innings together with a 47-run stand for the fifth wicket.

That Quetta were able to reach the total they did was thanks to Jacobs’ 31-ball 49 and Ahmed Daniyal’s nine-ball 22, which was cut short after he injured his hamstring and left the field for treatment. Nawaz ended with figures of 3 for 30 in his full quota, while Minhas claimed 2 for 14.

Sultans commenced their chase in style as Smith and Sahibzada Farhan (32 off 14) took the attack to the opposition straightaway, racing off to 50 in just 20 balls in an eventual partnership of 71 off 31. Farhan fell to Alzarri Joseph in the final over of the powerplay while Shakeel removed Josh Phillippe two overs later, but at 96 for 2, the target seemed well within reach.

Shan Masood joined forces with Smith, and the duo knocked down 40 runs in tandem to take Sultans on the brink when a relay catch on the boundary between substitute Saqib Khan and Rossouw brought Smith’s outing to an end. Two overs later, Minhas walked back after being lbw, but Masood and Turner took the team across the line with 15 balls to spare.

The Sultans secured their third victory of the season, jumping to the top of the table.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the match

Mohammad Nawaz

Veteran left-arm spinner Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers for Multan Sultans, returning with figures of 3 for 30, including the scalps of Khawaja Nafay, Saud Shakeel and Tom Curran.

What the captains said

Winning Team Captain, Ashton Turner (Multan Sultans)

"Slightly different conditions than the last two games. Did well in all three facets which is satisfying. I was probably going to bowl the first one but we expected two left-handers at the top. Fair play to them, they changed that. We feel we've underutilised our spin in powerplay. If conditions suit that, it's a nice option. It's part of it but at the  of it (helpful to have Australians in the camp), it's good people. We've got good people who are our domestic players, our local support staff. Guys are playing with a smile on their face. Might go find somewhere to find a blanket and pillow and sleep here, very short turnaround."

Losing Team Captain, Saud Shakeel (Quetta Gladiators)

"Can see the trend of teams attacking us with spin. When you lose early wickets, you're just playing catch up. It's an area of concern that we're losing wickets in a bunch. If your main bowler is injured and you're playing with five bowlers without the luxury of an allrounder, it dents your chances."