In a riveting showdown at the Pakistan Super League, the Multan Sultans showcased their prowess with a commanding victory over the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, by a resounding 60-run margin.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Multan Sultans’ skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s strategic decision paid dividends as his side posted an imposing total of 214 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The standout performance came from Usman Khan, whose blistering innings of 96 runs off just 55 deliveries left the opposition reeling. Supported by Iftikhar Ahmed’s unbeaten 40 off 18 balls, Multan Sultans maintained their momentum despite the early dismissals of Rizwan and Riza Hendricks. Contributions from Tayyab Tahir (21 runs) and Khushdil Shah (not out on 3 runs) bolstered the team’s total.
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In pursuit of a daunting target of 215 runs, Lahore Qalandars struggled under pressure and collapsed for 154 runs in 17 overs. Usama Mir emerged as the hero for Multan Sultans with a stellar bowling performance, claiming 6 crucial wickets for 40 runs to dismantle Lahore’s batting lineup.
Despite efforts from Shaheen Shah Afridi, Carlos Brathwaite, and Sikandar Raza, who managed to pick up a wicket each, Lahore Qalandars failed to counter Multan’s dominance and suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in PSL 9, remaining winless in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Multan Sultans’ emphatic victory propelled them to the summit of the points table, boasting 4 wins from 5 matches and accumulating a total of 8 points, reaffirming their status as formidable contenders in the tournament.