Multan Sultans down Islamabad United by five wickets in PSL-9

Staff Report

MULTAN: Multan Sultans grabbed victory over Islamabad United during the fifth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ninth edition played at Multan International Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday night. After Sultans’ quicks Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi stopped United batsmen from scoring a big total, the Mohammad Rizwan-led team chased the 145-run target in the last over after losing five wickets. It is the second victory of the Sultans as they defeated Karachi Kings by 55 runs in the third match of the tournament. In the pursuit of 145 runs, Rizwan made a strong start after the dismissal of Dawid Malan (0). The 31-year-old scored a brisk 43 off 33 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes. South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks continued his impressive form, contributing a crucial 58-run innings off 46 balls. Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed took charge of the chase, guiding the team to victory on the fifth ball of the 20th over. He made 17-ball 18 not out while Dawid Willey chipped in with seven runs off six balls. Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, and Tymal Mills each took a wicket for Islamabad United.

Earlier, Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi impressed with three wickets each as they restricted Islamabad United to 144. Agha Salman and Jordan Cox formed a resilient partnership, recovering from early setbacks to add 68 runs in 48 balls. Cox contributed significantly with a 41 off 28 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes, before getting dismissed lbw by Usama Mir attempting a switch hit. Salman top-scored with a steady innings of 52 off 43, featuring three boundaries and two sixes. In the last over bowled by Mohammad Ali, the final three wickets fell, with Naseem Shah getting run out on the last ball, concluding Islamabad United’s innings at 144. Afridi and Ali ended with bowling figures of 3-29 and 3-19, respectively, while Mir claimed two wickets.

SCOREBOARD

ISLAMABAD UNITED INNINGS

Colin Munro         b Ali  8

Alex Hales c Khushdil b Willey          2

Agha Salman c Khushdil b Abbas       52

Jordan Cox lbw b Usama          41

Azam Khan c Willey b Usama 13

Imad Wasim b Abbas      0

Shadab Khan b Abbas     11

Faheem Ashraf c Hendricks b Ali       1

Naseem Shah run out      2

Ubaid Shah b Ali   0

Tymal Mills not out        0

EXTRAS (B 5, LB 3, NB 3, W 3)      14

TOTAL (20 overs)         144

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-9, 2-14, 3-82, 4-100, 5-105, 6-140, 7-141, 8-141, 9-141, 10-144

BOWLING

David Willey        4-0-26-1

Mohammad Ali     4-0-19-3

Olly Stone   3.4-0-28-0

Abbas Afridi         4-0-33-3

Usama Mir  4-0-29-2

Khushdil Shah      0.2-0-1-0

MULTAN SULTANS INNINGS

Mohammad Rizwan lbw b Shadab      43

Dawid Malan b Naseem 0

Reeza Hendricks c Faheem b Mills     58

Yasir Khan c Hales b Imad        8

Iftikhar Ahmed not out   18

Khushdil Shah c Shadab b Naseem     3

David Willey not out      7

Did not bat: Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Olly Stone

EXTRAS (W 8)    8

TOTAL (19.5 overs)      145-5

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6, 2-77, 3-96, 4-125, 5-134

BOWLING

Naseem Shah        4-0-27-2

Faheem Ashraf     2-0-15-0

Ubaid Shah 2-0-15-0

Imad Wasim          4-0-22-1

Tymal Mills 3.5-0-31-1

Shadab Khan        4-0-35-1

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney, Faisal Afridi

TV umpire: Rashid Riaz

Match referee: Ali Naqvi