Perfect birthday gift for Richards as Quetta pull off thrilling win over Multan

Dubai - Tailenders shine for Gladiators after Malik and Gul had done good work for Sultans

Quetta Gladiators handed their batting coach and mentor Sir Vivian Richards a perfect birthday gift when they pulled off a thrilling and much-needed win against table toppers Multan Sultans in the third edition of the Pakistan Super League to keep their hopes alive of progressing into the Playoffs. With just two wins from five matches, the Sarfraz Ahmed-led side was hopelessly placed at second from bottom in the six-team league.
And, on Wednesday night they looked like heading towards their fourth defeat in six matches when out of the blue they found unlikely heroes in their tailenders Anwar Ali (15 from 8 balls, 1x4 and 1x6), Mohammad Nawaz (11 from 4 balls, 1x4, 1x6) and Hasan Khan who hit the winning six off Kieron Pollard when the team needed three runs from two balls.
Chasing 153 to win, Quetta had contributions from Shane Watson (26), Asad Shafiq (20), Rilee Roussoum (27) and Rameez Raja Junior (22) but they were still found wanting after Umar Gul came up with a splendid bowling performance to finish with 6 for 24 from his four overs.
With 60 needed from 36 balls it looked all over for Quetta until their tail wagged. From 22 off 12 it came down to 9 off 9, then 9 off 6. Pollard was handed the last over, but the West Indian had an off day in the field, first dropping Shane Watson in the slips, and then missing a run out of Hasan, which proved more costlier than Watson's wicket as the 19-year-old sent Pollard's next ball into the stands for the winning runs.
The win was all the more sweet for Quetta who had lost to Multan by nine wickets when the two teams last met in Sharjah.
Earlier, Quetta made three changes. Kevin Pietersen, Asad Shafiq and Ben Laughlin replaced Mahmudullah, Amin and Hastings.
Multan rested Junaid Khan and Darren Bravo, and brought in Umar Gul and Ross Whiteley.
Captain Sarfraz Ahmed, after winning the toss and opting to field, introduced spin for a change and Mohammad Nawaz was spot on with his first delivery. Playing a lazy-looking shot Kumar Sangakkara lobbed the ball straight into the hands of Hasan Khan at short mid-wicket.
In the next over Anwar Ali's rising ball had Ahmed Shehzad going on his toes to try and pull him through the off-side but the ball ended up in Sarfraz Ahmed's gloves whose half-hearted appeal for caught-behind was reviewed and it went in Quetta's favour. Soon Multan were 3 for 2.
Multan tampered with their batting line-up promoting Sohail Tanvir to No.4. They could have been 4 for 3 when Shane Watson dropped a sitter after Rahat Ali forced Tanvir, who had yet to open his account, to edge a rising delivery into the slip cordon.
Then Tanvir escaped a run-out on 14 but his luck didn't last long and Watson got his revenge by clean bowling him.
Maqsood and Shoaib Malik guided the team to 81 for 4 before Maqsood was trapped in front by Ben Laughlin.
After 15 overs Multan were struggling at 95 for 4 when the experience of Shoaib and Pollard helped them cross the 150-run mark.
Shoaib went on to remain unbeaten on 65.
clareto@khaleejtimes.com