Sports Report
RAWALPINDI: Opening batter Usman Khan struck the fastest century of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and powered Multan Sultans to the highest total in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) history against Quetta Gladiators in the 28th fixture of the league’s eighth edition.
Multan Sultans smashed 262 runs at the loss of only three wickets — Usman Khan, Rilee Rossouw, and Mohammad Rizwan — at a strike rate of 13.1 in 20 overs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Put into bat first, the Multan Sultans fully used the ideal batting conditions and managed 262/3 at the back of a scintillating century by Usman.
The new opening pair of Sultans – Usman and Mohammad Rizwan – charged the Gladiators’ bowlers right from the start as they took their side to 91/0 after the end of the first powerplay with Usman leading the baton charge.
The young right-handed batter was ruthless against his former franchise, so much so that he overshadowed Rizwan, scoring at around 200 striker rate.
Usman Khan smashes fastest century for Multan Sultans
Usman kept dominating the bowlers and struck the fastest century of PSL in 36 balls, breaking his teammate Rilee Rossouw’s record, who achieved the milestone in 41 deliveries.
His belligerent hitting soon took the Sultans past 150 at the halfway mark, and thus, the Sultans were looking comfortable to become the first side to breach the 300-run mark in T20s.
Gladiators’ stand-in captain Mohammad Nawaz finally found the breakthrough for his side as he removed the dangerous Usman, stumped on the first delivery of the 11th over.
Usman remained the top-scorer for the Multan Sultans, scoring a quickfire 120 in mere 43 deliveries, laced up with 12 boundaries and nine sixes.
Islamabad United previously held the record for the highest target as they had smashed 247 runs at a loss of two wickets at a strike rate of 12.35 in 20 overs against Quetta Gladiators in Abu Dhabi in 2021.
