Zalmi blow away Multan Sultans to register first win
RAWALPINDI: A blistering half-century by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, backed by a superb four-wicket performance from young pacer Ali Raza, led Peshawar Zalmi to a thumping 120-run win over Multan Sultans in the ninth fixture of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Set a towering target of 228, Multan’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure, folding for just 107 runs in 15.5 overs despite a fighting 44 from Usman Khan.
The Sultans’ chase began on a shaky note as skipper Mohammad Rizwan departed for 15 in the fourth over with only 27 runs on the scoreboard.
Usman then paired up with Shai Hope to build some momentum, sharing a 36-run partnership for the second wicket. However, that stand ended in the seventh over when Hope was dismissed for 20 by Arif Yaqoob.
His fall triggered a dramatic collapse, as Multan lost their next eight wickets for a mere 44 runs, including the key wicket of Usman, who was the top-scorer with a brisk 22-ball 44 featuring four boundaries and three sixes.
Ali Raza stood out with the ball for Zalmi, finishing with impressive figures of 4/21 in four overs. Arif Yaqoob supported well with three wickets, while Mitchell Owen claimed two.
Earlier, Zalmi’s innings didn’t begin on a promising note as they were reduced to 5/2 within the first three overs, losing openers Saim Ayub and Babar Azam cheaply.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Mohammad Haris then steadied the ship with a powerful counterattack. The pair stitched together a rapid 79-run stand in just 31 balls. Haris played the aggressor’s role, smashing 45 off 21 deliveries with four boundaries and three sixes before falling to Ubaid Shah in the eighth over.
Kohler-Cadmore later shared a valuable 53-run partnership with Hussain Talat for the fourth wicket. He eventually fell to Michael Bracewell after scoring 52 off 30 balls, including two fours and five sixes.
Talat contributed a solid 37 off 29 balls before falling to Iftikhar Ahmed, leaving Zalmi at 143/5 in the 15th over.
Abdul Samad and Mitchell Owen then unleashed a late onslaught, adding 73 runs for the sixth wicket. Owen blasted 34 off 15 balls, while Samad smashed 40 off just 14, helping Zalmi post a massive total of 227.
For Multan, Ubaid Shah, Michael Bracewell, and David Willey claimed two wickets each, while Iftikhar Ahmed picked up one.
