The Rawalpindiz were @L0$ to their eighth straight loss of the season and remained winless after the Multan Sultans cruised to their 167-run target in 18.4 overs. The Sultans consolidated their place at second on the points table with the win.
Opting to bat first, the Rawalpindiz were reduced to 6/2 and endured a slow start having managed just 33 runs off the Powerplay. A 63-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and captain Mohammad Rizwan resuscitated the innings but the latter struggled for flow and was dismissed for a scratchy 26 off 29 balls. Mitchell carried on and shared a 52-run stand with Sam Billings before Dian Forrester brought in some much needed firepower at the death with a 15-ball 37. Mitchell remained unbeaten on 58 as the Rawalpindiz finished with 166/4.
In pursuit, Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith got the Sultans off to a breezy start. Smith looked in excellent touch and turned the game decisively in the ninth over by hitting Razaullah for a boundary followed by three sixes. That meant that the Sultans had already cruised to 89/1 by the halfway stage. Rawalpindiz struck back by dismissing both Smith and Josh Philippe in quick succession but with no scoreboard pressure to work with, they were unable to contain the opposition. Ashton Turner shepherded the rest of the chase with an unbeaten 37 off 21.
The Sultans are faced with back-to-back fixtures as they take on the Hyderabad Kingsmen in less than 24 hours.
@B0$: Rawalpindiz 166/4 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 58*, Dian Forrester 37*; Mohammad Imran Randhawa 1-9) lost to Multan Sultans 167/4 in 18.4 overs (Steve Smith 56, Ashton Turner 37*; Asif Afridi 2-28) by six wickets.
