Multan Sultans beat Rawalpindiz by 7 wickets – PSL 2026 Match Report
Multan Sultans beat Rawalpindiz by 7 wickets (with 22 balls remaining) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 6 April 2026 in the Pakistan Super League 2026 – 14th Match. Chasing 183, Multan cruised home in 16.2 overs to register a dominant victory.
The Story
Rawalpindiz set a competitive target of 183 after posting 182/8 in their 20 overs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan was lbw for 19 off 13 as Arafat Minhas struck early to remove the dangerous opener in the sixth over. Kamran Ghulam top-scored with 35 off 24 before Faisal Akram continued his wicket-taking spree, claiming Ghulam and Abdullah Fazal in quick succession. Sam Billings anchored the innings brilliantly with an unbeaten 56 off 34 (7 fours, 1 six), while Dian Forrester added a blistering 24 off 11 including three sixes before Peter Siddle dismissed him. Late contributions from Asif Afridi (7) and Mohammad Amir Khan (0*) saw Rawalpindiz close on 182/8. Faisal Akram was the standout bowler for Multan, taking 4/31 from his four overs at a miserly 7.75 economy. Arafat Minhas chipped in with 2/22.
Multan’s chase was clinical from the off. Sahibzada Farhan set the tone with 68 off 38 at the top of the order, smashing four fours and five sixes before being dismissed by Mohammad Amir Khan at the start of the 14th over. Josh Philippe backed him up brilliantly, punishing anything loose with 56 off 30 (6 fours, 3 sixes) before Mohammad Amir took his second in the 12th over. Steven Smith fell cheaply for 5 but Shan Masood (27* off 15) and Ashton Turner (26* off 10) finished the job emphatically, adding 47 for the unbroken fourth wicket to seal a seven-wicket win with 22 balls to spare.
Statz MVP: Faisal Akram – Rating 79.8
Faisal Akram was the clear match-winner with ball in hand. His 4/31 from four overs – including the wickets of Kamran Ghulam, Abdullah Fazal, Daryl Mitchell and Asif Afridi – dismantled the Rawalpindiz middle and lower order when it mattered most. At 7.75 runs per over in a match where the overall scoring rate was above nine, Akram’s control was exceptional. The Statz algorithm rewards bowling impact heavily when wickets come at key positions in the innings, and Akram’s four wickets spanned positions three through seven – exactly where the damage needed to be done. Rating 79.8 is thoroughly deserved.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faisal Akram | Multan Sultans | 79.8 | 4/31 from 4 overs (7.75 econ) – dismantled Rawalpindiz middle order |
| 2 | Arafat Minhas | Multan Sultans | 66.0 | 2/22 from 4 overs (5.5 econ) – suffocating opening spells |
| 3 | Sahibzada Farhan | Multan Sultans | 54.3 | 68 off 38 (SR 178.95) – launched the Multan chase |
| 4 | Josh Philippe | Multan Sultans | 50.3 | 56 off 30 (SR 186.67) – maintained pressure alongside Farhan |
| 5 | Ashton Turner | Multan Sultans | 44.5 | 26* off 10 (SR 260) – finished the game in style |
Statz Ratings use T20 Match Impact v1.2. A 15% loss penalty is applied to all players on the losing side – ratings shown above reflect final adjusted scores.
Turning Point
The crucial moment arrived in the 11th over of the Multan chase. With the score at 122/1, Josh Philippe was caught at mid-on by Sam Billings off Mohammad Amir for 56. That left Multan needing 61 from 54 balls with nine wickets remaining – a comfortable equation. Rather than the match tightening, the next wicket (Sahibzada Farhan, 139/3 in over 14) also came with the game already won in terms of run rate. But the back-to-back falls of Farhan and Philippe briefly gave Rawalpindiz hope. Shan Masood and Ashton Turner extinguished that immediately, plundering 47 runs in the final 22 balls to shut the door completely.
Match Context
The Pakistan Super League 2026 is in full swing, with this the 14th match of the competition. Multan Sultans have been in dominant form, and this seven-wicket win reinforces their credentials as genuine title contenders. Rawalpindiz, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, will be frustrated after posting a competitive 182 – but the Multan attack and top order proved too much on the day. The PSL continues to deliver high-quality T20 cricket with some of the world’s best players on show.
Full scorecard and Statz Ratings available at statz.ai/cricket/fixtures/69487.
