Multan Sultans finished at the top of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine points table after a convincing 79-run win over Quetta Gladiators in the final round match at the National Bank Cricket Stadium.
With 14 points and seven wins, Sultans managed to take the lead on the table over Peshawar Zalmi, who finished with six wins and 13 points.
Islamabad United and Gladiators ended on third and fourth respectively with 11 points each.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 Points Table
Mohammad Rizwan's men didn't let Gladiators batters dominate by taking wickets at regular intervals while defending 186.
Gladiators were eventually bowled out for 106 in the 16th over. For Sultans, Willey and Usama Mir shared three wickets apiece while Abbas Afridi bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan and Johnson Charles scored splendid half-centuries, propelling Multan Sultans to a substantial 185/4 after being put into bat.
Rizwan was the top-scorer for the Sultans with a 47-ball 69, which included one boundary and four sixes. Charles made 53 off 29 balls while Iftikhar carried his bat throughout the innings with an unbeaten 20 off eight deliveries, including two boundaries and a six.
Mohammad Amir led the bowling attack for Quetta Gladiators with two wickets but conceded runs, while Abrar, Akeal Hosein, and Mohammad Wasim Jr. claimed one wicket each.
The playoffs schedule of the PSL 9 has also been confirmed. Sultans will now play Peshawar Zalmi in Qualifier 1 on March 14 while Gladiators play Islamabad United in the Eliminator on March 15.
Sultans and Zalmi have two chances of qualifying for the PSL 9 final after finishing at the top two of the points table since the loser of Qualifier 1 will take on the winner of Eliminator on March 16.
PSL 2024 playoffs matches
March 14, 2024, Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Stadium
March 15, 2024, Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Stadium
March 16, 2024, Eliminator Winner v Qualifier Runner-up, National Bank Stadium
March 18, 2024, Final, National Bank Stadium