Multan Sultans triumphed over Karachi Kings by 3 runs in the 11th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Wednesday after Kings failed to chase the mammoth target of 197 runs set for them.
Put to bat first, Sultans posted a mammoth target of 197 — thanks to a sensational century from Mohammad Rizwan — before its great bowling display restricted Kings to 193-5 in 20 overs.In a thrilling contest as the second innings came to a close, Abbas Afridi defended 22 runs in the last over to help his side secure victory.Skipper Imad Wasim tried his best, scoring 46 runs off 26 balls but it wasn’t enough to chase down the target.
James Vince and Matthew Wade put on a 72-run partnership for the first wicket to put their side in command in reply to the big target of 197 runs.
Vince reached his half-century in only 20 balls. The English batter hit six fours and four maximums to complete his fifty.
However, spinner Usama Mir struck for his side as he trapped Wade for an LBW (leg-between-wicket) to break the partnership. The left-handed batter departed after scoring 20 runs in 14 balls.The dangerous Vince had to depart in the 10th over after a mix-up between him and Haider Ali. He had to walk off the field after a run-out following scoring 75 runs off just 34 balls.The next batter to fall was Haider, who tried to play a cut shot off Khushdil Shah but the ball ended up in Rizwan’s gloves after an edge.The left-arm spinner sent Haider Ali back to the pavilion after James Vince departed following a run-out.
As the required run rate kept increasing, veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik tried to hit Abbas for a six, but he couldn’t cross the fence and Kieron Pollard took a sensational catch to send him packing.
The PSL 8’s top wicket-taker Ihsanullah went wicket-less but bowled his crucial four overs at a miserly economy of 4.25.For Multan Sultans, Abbas claimed two wickets, and Usama and Khusdil took a wicket each.
