Usama Mir’s six-for and Usman Khan’s belligerent 55-ball 96 propelled Multan Sultans to big victory over Lahore Qalandars in the 14th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.
LAHORE QALANDARS' INNINGS
Chasing a target of 215, the Qalandars were bundled out for 154, with Sahibzada Farhan emerging as their top-scorer, scoring 21-ball 31, following Rassie van der Dussen’s 30, the centurion against Peshawar Zalmi.
Fakhar Zaman scored 16-ball 23, before he was bowled out by Aftab Ibrahim,
Other batters, Kamran Ghulam (12), Sikandar Raza (17), Shaheen Shah Afridi (9), George Linde (5), Jahandad Khan (0), Salman Fayyaz (8), and Zaman Khan (1), could not show significant resistance with the bat.
For the Sultans, Usama Mir (6-40) had recorded his best bowling figures, bagging six wickets by conceding 40 runs.
Faisal Akram (2-25) took two wickets.
Aftab Ibrahim (1–5) and Khushdil Shah (1-31) took a scalp each.
MULTAN SULTANS' INNINGS
Usman Khan’s blistering 55-ball 96 and Iftikhar Ahmed’s fireworks (40 off 18) powered the Multan Sultans to a 214-4 victory against Lahore Qalandars.
Opting to bat first in the final match of the Lahore-leg, Sultans skipper Rizwan went for duck after the latter had struck a brilliant 82 against the same opponents in the ongoing season. It was Shaheen Shah Afridi who removed Rizwan.
But Reeza Hendricks and Usman Khan stitched a 70-run partnership to bounce back. Hendricks was removed by Sikandar Raza, when the former compiled a 27-ball 40.
Usman Khan was brilliant but four runs short of another ton, but was removed by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
It was Iftikhar’s power show of late that propelled the score to a staggering total to put the already troubled Qalandars on the back foot.
For the Qalandars, Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-39) took two wickets.
Carlos Brathwaite (1-36) and Sikandar Raza (1-20).
TOSS
The toss went in favor of the Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with captain Muhammad Rizwan electing to bat first. Both teams have made changes to their lineups for this crucial encounter.
Both teams had made changes to their lineups for this crucial encounter. The Qalandars were hoping for a change in fortunes with players like Fakhar Zaman, Rasi van der Dussen, and Sikandar Raza in their ranks. Multan Sultans, led by captain Mohammad Rizwan, boasted a strong batting lineup with the likes of Usman Khan, Shan Masood, and Khushdil Shah.
The pressure was on for the Qalandars, who haven't been able to find their winning rhythm yet. Multan, on the other hand, were brimming with confidence after their dominant performance in the previous match, where they defeated the same team by 5 wickets.
Currently leading the event with four wins out of five matches, Multan Sultans entered the game with confidence and determination. In contrast, Lahore Qalandars faced an uphill battle, having suffered defeat in all their previous encounters in PSL 9.
In the preceding match of PSL 9, Multan Sultans showcased their dominance by clinching a convincing victory over Lahore Qalandars, winning by 5 wickets. However, the Lahore team remained resilient, eager to reverse their fortunes and make a statement in the tournament.
