Arafat’s all-round display steers Sultans to 11-run win as Kings’ slide continues

Staff Report

KARACHI: Arafat Minhas produced a match-winning all-round display as Multan Sultans beat Karachi Kings by 11 runs in Match 28 of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The 21-year-old claimed three for 32 including the prized scalps of Jason Roy and Salman Ali Agha in the powerplay and effected two run outs in the field. He also struck a handy 17 off 12 balls lower down the order as Multan consolidated second place on the standings with 10 points from seven matches. Karachi slipped to seventh after a fourth consecutive defeat as they managed 196 all out in 19.4 overs in reply to Multan’s 207 for seven in 20 overs. Mohammad Abbas Afridi’s blistering 34 off 16 balls and Hasan Ali’s 23 from 10 deliveries threatened to pull off a remarkable heist in the final overs but their eighth-wicket stand of 25 came too late as Multan held their nerve at the death. While chasing, Karachi lost Roy for 16 in the third over caught off Arafat who then bowled Salman for two in the fifth over. Saad Baig made 21 from 15 balls before falling to Peter Siddle caught by Muhammad Imran as Karachi found themselves 47 for three inside the powerplay.

Reeza Hendricks and Moeen Ali rebuilt with a 67-run fourth-wicket stand that briefly gave Karachi hope. Hendricks struck five fours and two sixes in his 32-ball 49 before falling one short of a half-century, caught off Muhammad Imran. Moeen contributed 27 from 23 balls with two sixes before Ashton Turner had him caught by Imran in the 15th over with the scoreboard reading 129 for five.  Khushdil Shah fell for four to Momin Qamar (3-0-25-1) and Arafat returned to trap Shahid Aziz leg-before-wicket for a duck as Karachi slumped to 160 for seven in 16.4 overs. Abbas then counter-attacked with three fours and two sixes in his 16-ball cameo while Hasan struck two sixes in a 10-ball blitz to bring the equation down to 22 from the final 11 balls. Siddle (4-0-28-2) ended Abbas’s resistance in the penultimate over before Arafat ran out both Adam Zampa and Hasan in quick succession to seal the win for the Sultans.

Earlier, Multan were put in to bat and lost Steve Smith for a duck in the second over, falling to Khushdil Shah. Debutant Muhammad Awais Zafar (36, 27b, 5x4s, 1×6) and Philippe put on 66 for the second wicket before Khushdil (4-0-35-3) struck again to bowl Philippe for a quickfire 44 from 23 balls including five fours and two sixes. Shan Masood then took charge with 46 from 25 balls striking three fours and three sixes before being stumped by Saad Baig off Moeen Ali (4-0-30-2) in the 14th over. Awais fell shortly after as the scoreboard read 121 for three after 12.1 overs. Multan’s innings lost momentum briefly through the middle overs as Turner made 11 and Arafat 17 (2x4s) before Imran launched a sensational late assault. The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 26 from just eight balls with two fours and two sixes while Mohammad Wasim Jnr chipped in with an unbeaten seven as the pair plundered 33 from the final 11 deliveries to lift Multan past 200.

Brief scores:

Match 28 – Multan Sultans beat Karachi Kings by 11 runs at National Bank Stadium, Karachi

Multan Sultans 207-7, 20 overs (Shan Masood 46, Josh Philippe 44, Muhammad Awais Zafar 36, Muhammad Imran 26 not out, Arafat Minhas 17; Khushdil Shah 3-35, Moeen Ali 2-30) VS Karachi Kings 196 all out, 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 49, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 34, Moeen Ali 27, Hasan Ali 23, Saad Baig 21; Arafat Minhas 3-32, Peter Siddle 2-28)

Player of the Match: Arafat Minhas (Multan Sultans).