Mohammad Rizwan’s searing 59-ball 82 and Iftikhar Ahmed’s blazing and unbeaten 11-ball 34 propelled the Multan Sultans to another victory over the Lahore Qalandars in the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Multan Sultans’ Innings
Chasing a score of 167, the home team completed the equation with six balls remaining when Iftikhar hit three boundaries and two sixes off Zaman Khan’s over.
Following an early hiccup in which the Sultans lost Dawid Malan (0), Reeza Hendricks (9), and Yasir Khan (8), their skipper Mohammad Rizwan blasted a stunning 59-ball 82, lacing it with nine boundaries and three maximums.
Rizwan found a competent ally in David Willey, with whom he scored 75 runs from 51 deliveries.
Zaman Khan withdrew from Rizwan to resolve the standoff between him and Willey.
Willey took care to play patiently and wait for any lost deliveries. He collected a cautious 23-ball 25 before being caught by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Khushdil Shah, who joined Iftikhar, did not get a chance to play any deliveries and remained unconquered at zero. But Iftikhar had decided to seal the victory for the Sultans in his trademark way, hitting five boundaries and two massive sixes.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-25) emerged as the Qalandars’ best bowler.
He not only took two wickets but also had the best economy rate at 6.25.
Zaman Khan (2-52) had taken two wickets but surrendered 52 runs.
George Linde, who replaced Salman Fayyaz, was a clean bowler who took one wicket. He was the Qalandars’ second-most economical bowler, trailing only Shaheen Shah Afridi with an economy rate of 6.25.
Haris Rauf (0-25), Jahandad Khan (0-10), Carlos Braithwaite (0-7), and Sikandar Raza (0-24) went wicketless.
