MULTAN: After Islamabad United failed to chase down the target of 191 runs, Multan Sultans cruised to a 52-run victory in the seventh match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan was delighted with his team’s efforts in the win against United. The hosts are at the top of the points table with their only loss against Qalandars in the first match of the league.
“Excited! It’s a very collective effort from every member of the team and the support staff. It’s really good to see everyone contributing. We have different heroes for different games, both batting and bowling. Team is ticking all the boxes and it’s showing in the results,” Rizwan said in the post-match presentation.
Meanwhile, the winning side’s fast bowler Abbas Afridi’s brilliant four wickets in three overs and just 22 runs earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
“The management and bowling coach have helped me a lot. Fortunately, things are working out for me. The plan of the coaches and the captain was to mix the length/pace and keep it simple,” Afridi said.
Meanwhile, Islamabad captain Shadab Khan defended his decisions regarding bowling first and playing spinner Abrar Ahmed instead of Asif Ali.
“Don’t think [that the bowling choice was a bad decision]. We had confidence in our chasing abilities and we still believe it was the right call. Was able to get 190 but we couldn’t,” said Shadab.
“I am not bowling well as I am coming back from injury so I wanted a sixth bowling option. Abrar had to play because I wasn’t fit to bowl a full spell and an extra spinner helps in a one-day game. We have no doubt about Asif Bhai. He is our match winner and we told him that it is only for one game.
“We are looking forward to the home games. Sometimes losses like this are a blessing in disguise early in the tournament. We will bounce back.”
Chasing a target of 191 runs, the entire Islamabad team was bowled out for 138 runs in 17.5 overs.
Islamabad, who were 112-4 at one stage, lost their last six wickets for just 26 runs.
Earlier, the home side posted 4-190 in the allotted 20 overs with the help of half-centuries from David Miller and Mohammad Rizwan.
Miller scored a 25-ball 52, with three fours and four maximums, to give his team some quick runs at the back end of the innings. During his brilliant innings, South Africa also hit Islamabad captain Shadab Khan for three consecutive sixes.
Multan Sultans: Shaun Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (C, WK), Riley Russo, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Carlos Brathwaite, Osama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ehsanullah, Mohammad Ilyas.
Islamabad United: Paul Sterling, Hasan Nawaz, Colin Munro, Rasi van der Dusen, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (WK), Shadab Khan (C), Tom Curran, Faheem Ashraf, Roman Raees, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
