Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten and blistering 54-ball 79 and bowlers’ brilliance powered Multan Sultans to a 55-run lopsided victory against Karachi Kings in the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
KARACHI KINGS’ INNINGS
Chasing a target of 186, the Kings were restricted to 130-8 in 20 overs. With the exception of veteran Shoaib Malik (53 off 35), captain Shan Masood (31 off 30), Kieron Pollard (28 off 29), no batters could reach double figures.
Malik showed why he still holds value in T20 cricket and went on to rack up 53, lacing with five boundaries and two sixes. But this was not enough, as Mohammad Ali, David Willey and Abbas Afridi applied the coup de grace against the Kings’ batting attack.
Other Kings’ batters, James Vince (5), Saad Baig (0), Mohammad Nawaz (7), Daniel Sams (0), Hasan Ali (0), Mir Hamza (0) failed to show any resistance with the bat.
Tabraiz remained not out on 0.
For the Sultans, Mohammad Ali (3-23) spearheaded the bowling attack, scooping up three wickets.
Abbas Afridi (2-16) and David Willey (2-22) bagged two wickets apiece.
Usama Mir (1-14) was brilliant with the bowl, conceding merely 14 runs and bagging one wicket.
After being put on the bat, Hendricks’s unbeaten, blistering 54-ball 79 and Dawid Malan’s brilliant 41-ball 52 powered the Sultans to 185-2 against the Kings in the domestic premium tournament.
MULTAN SULTANS' INNINGS
After facing an early hiccup, when Mohammad Rizwan (11) was removed by Mir Hamza, Reeza Hendricks and Dawid Malan had racked up a 121-run partnership off just 84 deliveries.
The duo paved the way for their team to set up a formidable total of 185-2 for the visitors.
In his blazing 79-run knock, Hendricks clobbered seven boundaries and three towering sixes.
Dawid Malan motored four boundaries and one six before he was removed by Daniel Sams.
Khushdil Shah had played an unconquered cameo, scoring 13-ball 28, studding with four boundaries.
There was nothing special about the Kings’ bowling, with the exception of Mir Hamza (1-30) and Daniel Sams (1-37), who took a scalp each.
Other bowlers, Mohammad Amir Khan (0-7), Shoaib Malik (0-10), Hasan Ali (0-38), Tabraiz Shamsi (0-45) and Mohammad Nawaz (0-11) remained wicketless.
SQUADS
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Dawid Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Yasir Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani.
Karachi Kings: James Vince, Shan Masood (c), Saad Baig, Mohammad Nawaz, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Hasan Ali, Tabraiz Shamsi, Mir Hamza, and Mohammad Amir Khan.
