Rilee Rossouw smashes 121 as Sultans compile the highest second-innings score in PSL history, while Zalmi failed to defend a score in the 240s for the second time in three days
Rawalpindi: Peshawar Zalmi 242-6, Multan Sultans 244-6 - Multan Sultans won by four wickets
Multan Sultans roared into the Pakistan Super League playoffs after completing a spectacular run-chase to beat a despairing Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi.
Rilee Rossouw fired the fastest PSL century, surpassing his own record, off just 41 deliveries.
His 121 included a 99-run third-wicket stand with Kieron Pollard (52).
Rossouw crashed eight sixes in all, two of which came off Azmatullah Omarzai's third over that went for 20.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore pulled off an inspired grab to dismiss the South African in the penultimate over with Sultans still needing 16 off nine deliveries.
But Usama Mir and Anwar Ali eased the nerves with a six each to finish the over before the former flicked Arshad Iqbal to the boundary to complete victory with five deliveries remaining.
Babar Azam finds the boundary on his way to scoring 73 (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
The Sultans' final total of 244 for 6 is the highest second-innings score in PSL history and is the second time Zalmi have failed to defend a score in excess of 240 in the space of three days.
As against Quetta Gladiators, they looked in complete control of the contest at the halfway stage.
Saim Ayub (58) hit a fourth half-century in five innings, Babar Azam struck 73 and Mohammad Haris 35 as Zalmi picked up from where they left off with the bat.
Kohler-Cadmore took them above and beyond 200, clobbering Ali to the rope off successive balls in the 18th over before cracking two sixes off the same bowler prior to being dismissed for 38 following a super catch from Pollard.
New man Wahab Riaz clattered the next ball for six - one of 32 on an extraordinary evening in Rawalpindi - but Zalmi still managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.