Lahore, April 29, 2026: Vice-captain Shan Masood produced a determined half-century to guide Multan Sultans to a competitive total against Hyderabad Kingsmen in Eliminator 1 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Asked to bat first in the high-stakes clash, the Sultans posted 159/9 in their 20 overs, largely thanks to Masood’s unbeaten knock.
Multan endured a shaky start as Mohammad Ali removed Steve Smith for 13 in the third over with just 28 runs on the board.
The Kingsmen struck further blows during the powerplay, with Akif Javed dismissing Sahibzada Farhan (15), while Hunain Shah trapped Josh Philippe lbw. The Sultans slumped to 36/3 early on.
Captain Ashton Turner attempted to stabilise the innings alongside Masood, but his stay was cut short by Saim Ayub in the seventh over.
Glenn Maxwell further dented the innings by dismissing Arafat Minhas, leaving the Sultans struggling at 52/5.
Masood, however, held firm and stitched together a valuable 33-run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz, who scored 19 before falling to Akif Javed.
The Sultans continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Peter Siddle departing cheaply, as the Kingsmen bowlers maintained pressure.
Amid the collapse, Masood remained resolute, anchoring the innings with composure. The left-hander brought up his 10th PSL half-century in the 18th over and remained unbeaten on 67 off 45 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes.
For the Kingsmen, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, and Akif Javed claimed two wickets each, while Glenn Maxwell and Saim Ayub chipped in with one apiece.
Despite early setbacks, Masood’s resilient knock ensured the Sultans posted a fighting total in the knockout encounter.
