Yasir, bowlers fire Multan to first victory of HBL PSL X

Staff Report

 MULTAN: Multan Sultans finally clinched their first win in HBL PSL X, defeating Lahore Qalandars by 33 runs in a high-scoring contest here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. Sultans opening batter Yasir Khan shone in his first outing of the season with an explosive 87 before an all-round bowling display spearheaded by pacer Ubaid Shah restricted Qalandars to 195-9 in the allotted 20 overs while chasing a mammoth 229-run target. Qalandars lost Mohammad Naeem (11, 11b, 2x4s) early in the chase with Michael Bracewell striking in the fourth over. The experienced Fakhar Zaman then led the charge with attacking strokes, racing to 32 off 14 balls including three sixes and two fours, but he was caught in the deep midwicket off Ubaid to leave Qalandars 49-2 in five overs.

Timely strikes from Bracewell and Ubaid in the middle pegged back Qalandars from making significant progress. After Usama Mir castled No. 6 Qalandars batter Rishad Hossain for two, the visitors required another 118 runs for victory in 52 balls. The sixth-wicket partnership of 38 off 22 deliveries between Sam Billings (43, 23b, 2x4s, 4x6s) and Sikandar Raza briefly threatened Sultans. However, Billings skied one to Kamran Ghulam to hand Ubaid his third wicket of the night. Sikandar continued to play big shots after Billings’ departure, hitting an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls (5x4s, 3x6s) but the Qalandars’ lower-order failed to fire. For Sultans, Ubaid grabbed three wickets for 37 runs while off-spinner Bracewell and leggie Usama claimed two scalps each.

Earlier, Yasir lit up Sultans’ first outing at home in HBL PSL X with a scintillating knock (87, 44b, 6x4s, 6x6s), propelling Multan Sultans to a commanding total of 228-5 – the highest team total at the Multan Cricket Stadium in HBL PSL history. He laid a rock-solid platform with skipper Mohammad Rizwan (32, 17b, 4x4s, 1×6) with a breezy 89-run opening stand in 45 balls. Sultans’ batting onslaught continued with the second-wicket partnership between Yasir and Usman Khan (39, 24, 5x4s, 1×6) yielding 70 runs in just 38 balls. Following Yasir’s exploits, Iftikhar Ahmed capped a dominant batting performance with a quick-fire cameo of 40 not out from 18 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and as many sixes. Qalandars’ bowlers did not have the best time in the field as their pacers conceded a total of 142 runs in 10 overs with just one wicket between them. Left-arm orthodox Asif Afridi bowled an economical spell with 1-26 from his four overs whereas leg-spinner Rishad took two wickets for 45 runs.

Brief scores:

Match 12: Multan Sultans beat Lahore Qalandars by 33 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium

Multan Sultans 228-5, 20 overs (Yasir Khan 87, Iftikhar Ahmed 40 not out, Usman Khan 39, Mohammad Rizwan 32; Rishad Hossain 2-45) vs Lahore Qalandars 195-9, 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 50 not out, Sam Billings 43, Fakhar Zaman 32; Ubaid Shah 3-37, Michael Bracewell 2-20, Usama Mir 2-26)

Player of the match – Yasir Khan (Multan Sultans).