LAHORE - Defending champions Multan Sultans have become the first team to enter the HBL Pakistan Super League 7 play-offs. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side continued their dream run in the league with a 42-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi in the 16th fixture of the tournament, the first of the season played here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday night.
Put into bat, Multan Sultans got off to a fine start with the in-form Shan Masood (player of the match) celebrating his call-up to the Pakistan Test squad for the series against Australia with 68 off 49 balls (eight fours, one six). Shan and Mohammad Rizwan added 98 for the first-wicket partnership. Rizwan contributed 34 off as many balls.
The big-hitting Tim David provided impetus to the Sultans innings with 34 off 18 balls, he hit three sixes to take his tournament sixes tally to 18 – the highest amongst all batters for the HBL PSL 7 season. Wahab Riaz took his first two wickets of the ongoing season conceding 34 runs in four overs, Salman Irshad also took two along with Saqib Mahmood who bowled a fine final over conceding a mere seven runs for two wickets.
The Sultans bowling attack led by Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani produced an outstanding performance to defend their 182-run total with consummate ease. Muzarabani made early inroads by dismissing openers Kamran Akmal (4) and Haider Ali (1) in his opening over. Zalmi received a big blow when Liam Livingstone (24) fell to Abbas Afridi. The England T20 specialist was making his first appearance for Zalmi in the ongoing season.
The seasoned Shoaib Malik top-scored with 44 (31 balls, four fours, two sixes) but his dismissal in the 15th over pegged back Zalmi. Ben Cutting hit some big blows in his 23 off 11 but fell to Khushdil Shah in the 18th over to bring curtains to the chase.
Zalmi were bowled out for 140 in 19.3 overs with Khushdil calming his 12th wicket of the season courtesy a sensational caught and bowled. Muzarabani took three wickets for 18 while Khushdil finished with three for 26 in 3.3 overs. Shahnawaz Dahani took two wickets. Sultans are at the top of the points table with six wins out of six matches (12 points). Zalmi have now lost four out of their six matches and continue to languish at the fifth-spot above the winless Karachi Kings.
Player of the match Shan Masood said: “As a player I just try and follow the process. I have been a bit clearer in my thought process while batting and all I am trying to do is to take it a ball at a time and react to each ball. I am just following the processes and I am pleased that it is working out well for me and helping me contribute to the team’s success.”
SCORES IN BRIEF
MULTAN SULTANS 182 for 7, 20 overs (Shan Masood 68, Tim David 34, Mohammad Rizwan 34; Wahab Riaz 2-34, Salman Irshad 2-34) beat PESHAWAR ZALMI 140 all out, 19.3 overs (Shoaib Malik 44, Liam Livingstone 24; Blessing Muzarabani 3-18, Khushdil Shah 3-26) by 42 runs.
