Faisal’s 4-31, Sahibzada, Philippe fifties hand Sultans fourth win

Staff Report

LAHORE: Multan Sultans romped to their fourth win in the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 and second consecutive across two days as they beat Rawalpindiz by seven wickets chasing the 183-run target in 16.2 overs here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Monday night. Rawalpindiz have now lost their first four matches in the tournament and will be looking for their first victory as they are set to play their remaining six league matches in Karachi. The action will now shift to National Bank Stadium in Karachi from 8 April where a total of 22 matches are to be played till 28 April. The HBL PSL 11 will return to the Gaddafi Stadium on 21, 22, 23 and 25 April. The 29 April Eliminator 1, 1 May Eliminator 2 and 3 May final will also be played in Lahore. Multan Sultans completed their fourth successful chase in the tournament with aplomb as Sahibzada Farhan and Josh Philippe scored aggressive fifties and also combined for a thumping century partnership. Shan Masood and Ashton Turner’s unbeaten 20s added the finishing touch.

With the ball, Faisal Akram shone bright dismissing Abdullah Fazal, Kamran Ghulam, Daryl Mitchell and Asif Afridi to collect figures of 4-31 – his best return across 26 T20s so far. In the chase, Mohammad Amir struck in the second over of innings to remove the in-form Steven Smith for a run-a-ball five with Abdullah taking a brilliant catch at deep square. At this juncture Sahibzada and Philippe took it upon themselves to change the course of the game with a 58-ball 110-run stand.  Sahibzada struck 68 off 38 balls striking four fours and five sixes, while Philippe’s 30-ball 56 stood on the back of six fours and three sixes. The duo helped their team collect 58 runs by the end of powerplay. Later a four sixes laden 10th over, which also included Sahibzada’s hat-trick of sixes against Rishad produced 26 runs taking them to 110-1. With 73 needed off last 10 overs, the Sultans lost Sahibzada and Philippe in a space of 13 balls to right-arm pacer Mohammad Amir Khan and left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, respectively.

Shan (27 not out, 15b, 2x4s, 1×6) and Turner (26 not out, 2x4s, 2x6s) hurried their team to victory with the skipper finishing the game with a four and six in the 17th over. Earlier, Rawalpindiz were lifted to a competitive total by Sam Billings, who notched his fifth HBL PSL fifty in his 400th T20 match, and was the only batter from his side to face more than 24 balls and cross the 35-run mark. Billings’ 56 not out off 34 balls came after he entered the fray with Rawalpindiz 79-4 in 9.3 overs and were soon reduced to 94-5 in 12 overs with the wicket of Mitchell (17, 12b, 2x4s), who was caught and bowled by Faisal. From this point onwards, Billings struck seven fours and one six and stitched a brisk 17-ball 33-run stand with Dian Forrester for sixth wicket, a 13-ball 23-run stand with Asif Afridi (7, 6b, 1×6) and the most valuable ninth-wicket stand of 31 from 15 balls with Mohammad Amir Khan, who remained unbeaten on naught off two. Forrester showed off his big hitting skills by clubbing Mohammad Nawaz for three consecutive sixes in the latter half of the 13th over and then hit Mohammad Wasim Jnr for four in a 11-ball 24-run knock. At the beginning of the Rawalpindiz innings, Mohammad Ismail castled Yasir Khan for a seven-ball five, while Arafat Minhas accounted for Mohammad Rizwan by trapping him leg-before for a 13-ball 19 comprising four fours.

Kamran Ghulam injected the much-needed impetus to the innings albeit for a short time by striking three fours and two sixes in his 24-ball 35 after walking in at 15-1. No.4 Abdullah struck a four and a six and looked threatening before his stay at the crease was cut short for an eight-ball 14 with Rawalpindiz 66-3 in 7.3 overs. Faisal’s regular strikes in eighth, 10th and 12th over hamstrung the Rawalpindiz innings reducing them to 94-5 in 12 overs. Arafat returned another miserly spell of four overs giving away 22 runs and taking two wickets. Ismail and Peter Siddle picked up one wicket each.

Brief scores:

Match 14: Multan Sultans beat Rawalpindiz by seven wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Rawalpindiz 182-9, 20 overs (Sam Billings 56 not out, Kamran Ghulam 35, Dian Forrester 24; Faisal Akram 4-31, Arafat Minhas 2-22) VS Multan Sultans 186-3, 16.2 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 68, Josh Philippe 56, Shan Masood 27 not out, Ashton Turner 26 not out; Mohammad Amir 2-32)

Player of the match – Faisal Akram (Multan).