Multan Sultans score 20-run victory over Karachi Kings in PSL-9

Staff Report

KARACHI: Table toppers Multan Sultans on Sunday scored a 20-run win against Karachi Kings in their home ground in the 19th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine.  The game played at the National Bank Ground saw Mohammad Rizwan-led side post a 189-run target on the back of Usman Khan’s unbeaten 109. Later, Karachi were restricted to 169-7 in their chase during the second innings. Captain Rizwan’s choice to bat first reaped rewards for Multan as they accumulated a substantial total on the scoreboard, courtesy of an extended partnership during the second wicket. Multan faced a challenging start to their innings, losing Reeza Hendricks (13) when the scoreboard read just 16 runs in the second over. Following this early setback, Usman joined his captain Rizwan in the middle, and the duo initiated a remarkable counterattack. The partnership lasted for over 15 overs, contributing 148 runs to Multan’s overall score. Usman played a central role as the primary aggressor in the impressive partnership, while Rizwan provided stability before eventually departing in the 18th over after achieving a careful half-century. He scored 58 runs off 44 deliveries, including five boundaries. Multan encountered another setback in their batting expedition when Iftikhar Ahmed (4) fell to the first delivery of the penultimate over, bowled by Hasan Ali. Nevertheless, Usman stood firm and reached his second PSL century in the final over with a six over deep square leg off Mir Hamza. Usman remained unbeaten, scoring 106 runs off 59 deliveries, adorned with 15 boundaries, including five sixes. Blessing Muzarabani led the bowling attack for Karachi, with Hasan securing one wicket. Multan currently top the PSL 9 standings with 10 points in six matches, while Karachi are in fifth place with four points in five matches.

SCOREBOARD

MULTAN SULTANS INNINGS

Mohammad Rizwan c Shan b Muzarabani    58

Reeza Hendricks c Hamza b Muzarabani      13

Usman Khan not out       106

Iftikhar Ahmed c Irfan b Hasan 4

Khushdil Shah not out    6

Did not bat: Tayyab Tahir, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Mohammad Ali, Faisal Akram

EXTRAS (LB 1, W 1)    2

TOTAL (20 overs)         189-3

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-16 (Reeza Hendricks, 1.4 ov), 2-164 (Mohammad Rizwan, 17.1 ov), 3-171 (Iftikhar Ahmed, 18.1 ov)

BOWLING

Mir Hamza  4-0-43-0

Blessing Muzarabani      4-0-32-2

Mohammad Nawaz         3-0-37-0

Hasan Ali    4-0-34-1

Zahid Mahmood   4-0-34-0

Shoaib Malik        1-0-8-0

KARACHI KINGS INNINGS

Shan Masood b Usama    36

Tim Seifert run out          1

James Vince c Usman b Jordan 7

Shoaib Malik c Jordan b Khushdil      38

Leus du Plooy c Rizwan b Usama       12

Irfan Khan c Usman b Willey    23

Mohammad Nawaz not out       27

Hasan Ali c Tayyab b Ali          17

Mir Hamza not out           4

Did not bat: Zahid Mahmood, Blessing Muzarabani

EXTRAS (LB 2, NB 1, W 1)    4

TOTAL (20 overs)         169-7

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6 (Tim Seifert, 1.3 ov), 2-28 (James Vince, 3.2 ov), 3-75 (Shan Masood, 8.6 ov), 4-89 (Shoaib Malik, 11.3 ov), 5-99 (Leus du Plooy, 12.6 ov), 6-124 (Irfan Khan, 16.2 ov), 7-165 (Hasan Ali, 19.5 ov)

BOWLING

David Willey        4-0-32-1

Mohammad Ali     4-0-40-1

Chris Jordan          4-0-34-1

Usama Mir  4-0-29-2

Khushdil Shah      3-0-16-1

Faisal Akram        1-0-16-0

Umpires: Faisal Afridi, Rashid Riaz

TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney

Match referee: Ali Naqvi