Multan (Web Desk): Multan Sultans defeated Lahore Qalandars by 33 runs in the 12th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 at Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The Sultans, led by skipper Mohammad Rizwan, chose to bat first and turned that decision into a statement of intent by putting up a daunting total of 228 for 5.
The opening duo of Rizwan and Yasir Khan wasted no time asserting themselves, racing to 89 runs within the first seven overs.
Rizwan, though dismissed early in the eighth over by Asif Afridi, played a captain’s knock, smashing 32 off just 17 balls with four boundaries and a maximum.
Yasir, meanwhile, carried the innings forward with a spectacular display of power-hitting, hammering 87 off 44 balls, peppered with six fours and six sixes.
After Rizwan’s departure, Usman Khan stepped in and built a vital 70-run partnership with Yasir. He chipped in a swift 39 off 24 deliveries before falling in the 14th over. The Sultans suffered a slight stumble with the dismissals of
Yasir and Ashton Turner in back-to-back overs, but Iftikhar Ahmed’s explosive cameo of 40 not out from just 18 balls reignited the momentum, pushing the total beyond the 220-mark.
Rishad Hossain was the most effective among Lahore’s bowlers, taking two wickets for 45 runs.
Contributions also came from Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sikandar Raza, and Asif Afridi, who claimed a wicket each but struggled to contain the flow of runs.
In response, Lahore began brightly with openers Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman stitching together a quick 38-run stand.
However, the innings soon unraveled. Naeem was the first to depart in the fourth over, bowled by Michael Bracewell for 11, and Fakhar followed shortly after, falling for a rapid 32 off 14 balls when he mistimed a lofted shot off Ubaid Shah, caught brilliantly by Josh Little near the boundary.
The middle order failed to build on the foundation, with wickets falling at regular intervals and run-rate pressure mounting.
Sam Billings tried to steer the chase back on track with a brisk 43 off 23 deliveries, featuring two fours and four sixes, but he too was undone by Ubaid Shah, who continued to impress with the ball.
Despite the setbacks, Sikandar Raza fought till the end with a defiant unbeaten half-century. His 50 came off 27 balls, laced with five fours and three sixes, but his lone effort could not rescue Lahore from a disappointing finish at 195 for 9.
Ubaid Shah was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with figures of 3 for 37. He received excellent support from Bracewell and Usama Mir, who took two wickets each, while David Willey and Josh Little chipped in with one apiece.
Teams
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Yasir Khan, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Usama Mir, Ubaid Shah and Joshua Little.
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings(w), Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi(c), Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan and Asif Afridi.