The Multan Sultans continued their winning streak in PSL 9, getting their second consecutive victory with a thrilling 5-wicket win over Islamabad United at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. After limiting Islamabad to a modest 144 runs, the Sultans chased down the target in the final over thanks to a gritty half-century by Reeza Hendricks.
Islamabad United’s Stuttering Start
Islamabad’s batting faltered early, losing openers Alex Hales and Colin Munro cheaply to David Willey and Mohammad Ali respectively. A brief middle-order fightback led by Jordan Cox and Salman Ali Agha was snuffed out by Usama Mir and Abbas Afridi, leaving Islamabad precariously placed at 105-5 in the 14th over. Skipper Shadab Khan and Salman added some respectability to the scorecard before falling prey to Abbas, and Islamabad limped to 144 all out.
Muhammad Ali and Afridi Shine with the Ball
Mohammad Ali was the hero of the bowling show, claiming three crucial wickets for just 19 runs. Abbas Afridi provided excellent support with another three-wicket haul, while Usama Mir chipped in with two scalps. Islamabad’s batting woes were further compounded by Naseem Shah’s run-out in the final over.
Reeza Hendricks Anchors Tense Chase for Multan
Chasing 145, Multan lost Dawid Malan early to Naseem Shah’s fiery pace. However, Reeza Hendricks steadied the ship with a composed half-century (58 runs). He shared a crucial 71-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan before the latter departed. Yasir Khan fell cheaply, but Hendricks continued the fight, smashing a six and two fours in the 17th over to bring his team closer to the target.
Naseem Shah and Mills Threaten Comeback
Naseem Shah dismissed Hendricks in the 18th over, while Tymal Mills sent Khushdil Shah packing in the penultimate over, raising hopes for an Islamabad comeback. However, Iftikhar Ahmed and David Willey held their nerve in the final over, scoring the remaining runs to secure victory for Multan with a ball to spare.
Multan Sultans Top the PSL Standings
This win propels Multan Sultans to the top of the HBL PSL 9 table, displaying their well-rounded squad and impressive form. The team will be aiming to continue their winning impetus in their upcoming matches, while Islamabad United will need to regroup and find their winning ways to stay in contention.
Scores in brief:
Islamabad United 144 all out, 20 overs (Salman Ali Agha 52, Jordan Cox 41; Mohammad Ali 3-19, Abbas Afridi 3-33, Usama Mir 2-29)
Multan Sultans 145-5, 19.5 overs (Reeza Hendricks 58, Mohammad Rizwan 41; Naseem Shah 2-27)
Result: Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by 5 wickets
Player of the match – Mohammad Ali (Multan Sultans)
Tomorrow’s fixtures: Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium Lahore (2 pm); Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Multan Cricket Stadium (7 pm).
