Multan Sultans opening batter Shan Masood gave credit to David Willey after they defeated Quetta Gladiators by six runs at the National Stadium, Karachi on Monday in the seventh match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2022. The reigning champions posted a par score of 174 runs after Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bowl first.
David Willey, who is well known for his variation of change in pace, was able to deliver the goods for the team. The English medium pacer scalped three wickets and conceded only 22 runs in 3.5 overs and got the big wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored a fine cameo of 13-ball 30. Furthermore, Sultans’ spinner Khushdil Shah and Imran Tahir scalped three wickets each to skittle out the opposition at 168 runs.
On the other hand, Shan Masood played a key role in helping his team post a par score of 174 runs after he scored a fine knock of 88 runs off just 58 balls. Masood was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine performance.
Shan Masood said in the post-match presentation, “What matters is mental space and I am in a very good mental space. If you do the basics right it will help you play freely in all three formats. Today was one day where you wanted Rizwan to play all the way with ball gripping and slower balls working, unfortunately, we lost him early and managed to up the momentum in the end. Willey bowled outstandingly well and his spell was what won us the game in the end”.
Meanwhile, Willey was delighted with his performance and revealed that the plan was to change the pace of the ball.
Willey said after the game, “I think it was a good catch in the end. Pace-off was really important today. A calm head helps and just doing the basics right there in the end. I am trying to change pace and I knew the delivery that was gonna work on this surface. We are the first team to win batting first and close games like these sets you up for the rest of the competition”.
On the other hand, Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan heaped praise on Khushdil Shah, who returned with impressive figures of 3-16 in his quota of four overs.
Rizwan said, “We saw that the ball was gripping and it wasn’t easy to bat and it was his (Khushdil) night with the ball tonight. We were targetting 160-170 and we thought if we can do well in all the departments the toss doesn’t really matter”.
Multan Sultans will next face Islamabad United on Tuesday at the same venue of National Stadium, Karachi.
