Multan Sultans Finally Registers Their First Win in PSL 10
MULTAN: A fiery half-century from Yasir Khan, backed by a three-wicket burst from Ubaid Shah, propelled Multan Sultans to a commanding 33-run win over Lahore Qalandars in the 12th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Set a daunting 229-run target, Lahore Qalandars could only manage 195/9 in their 20 overs, despite a fighting fifty from Sikandar Raza.
The visitors began their chase with promise, as openers Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman put together a quick 38-run partnership. However, momentum soon shifted when Naeem was removed by Michael Bracewell in the fourth over after scoring 11 off 11 balls.
Fakhar followed in the next over, mistiming a fuller delivery from Ubaid Shah that was brilliantly taken by Josh Little at deep midwicket. Fakhar had blazed his way to 32 off just 14 balls, hammering two boundaries and clearing the ropes thrice.
From there, Qalandars lost wickets at regular intervals, derailing their chase. Sam Billings showed some fight in the middle overs, crafting a quickfire 43 from 23 deliveries with two fours and four maximums before being undone by Ubaid in the 15th over.
Lower down the order, seasoned campaigner Sikandar Raza held firm with a valiant unbeaten 50 off 27 balls, decorated with five fours and three sixes, but couldn’t steer his side to victory.
Ubaid Shah emerged as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/37, while Bracewell and Usama Mir bagged two wickets each. David Willey and Josh Little also claimed a scalp apiece.
Earlier, Multan Sultans capitalized on Rizwan’s decision to bat first, racking up a formidable 228/5. Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan got the hosts off to a flying start, putting on 89 runs in the first seven overs.
Rizwan’s fluent 32 off 17 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six, was cut short by Asif Afridi, who bowled him around his legs on the first ball of the eighth over.
Usman Khan then joined Yasir and contributed a valuable 39 from 24 deliveries, including five fours and a six, as the pair added 70 runs for the second wicket before both departed in quick succession.
Yasir was the standout performer with the bat, hammering 87 from 44 balls, striking six fours and six sixes. Ashton Turner (15) fell soon after, reducing the score to 179/4 in the 16th over.
Iftikhar Ahmed then provided the finishing touch with a blistering 40 not out from just 18 balls, propelling Multan past the 220-mark.
Rishad Hossain was the most successful bowler for the Qalandars with 2/45, while Shaheen Afridi, Asif Afridi, and Sikandar Raza claimed a wicket each.
