PSL 7: Multan Sultans thrash Peshawar Zalmi by 42 runs

Lahore: Multan Sultans thrashed Peshawar Zalmi by 42 runs in the 16th match of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 7) at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a 183-run target, the Zalmi never looked comfortable as both Kamran Akmal and Liam Livingstone were sent back to the pavilion in the first six overs.

Sultans continued to strike on regular intervals as the Zalmi were clueless in crafting the run-chase. Soon afterwards, the Wahab Riaz-led team looked in sheer turmoil.

All-rounder Shoaib Malik played a good knock of 44 runs and remained the highest scorer for his team. Malik tried to bring Kings closer to the target by smashing some boundaries, but the task for him was humongous against a brilliant Sultans attack that restricted the Zalmi to 140 at the loss of 10 wickets.

In terms of bowling, Khushdil Shah and Blessing Muzarabani were once against the stand-out bowlers for their team as they took three wickets each, while Shahnawaz Dahani dismissed two batters. Abbas Afridi and Imran Tahir picked one wicket each.

Sultan's innings

Playing first, Multan Sultans set 183-run target for Peshawar Zalmi. Shan Masood’s 68 runs helped Sultans to hand a 183-run target to Peshawar Zalmi. Sultans posted the huge total courtesy of Shan Masood’s terrific 68 runs and Tim David's sensational 34 runs off 18 balls.

Rizwan scored 34 runs, as he didn't look in the flow today, but Masood continued his rich form by playing a 68-run inning of 49 balls with the help of eight fours and one six which provided a solid foundation for other batters to launch an onslaught against the Zalmi bowlers in the late overs.

Things did get a touch muted following the powerplay when Peshawar Zalmi s spinners, Liam Livingstone and Shoaib Malik, tightened the screws and bowled extremely well in tandem.

By the time Rizwan was dismissed, the Sultans were nearing the three digits mark and it was the perfect platform for their middle order to unleash its explosiveness. Tim David contributed handily with another blistering cameo of 34 off 18.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi have won the toss, opted to field first against Multan Sultans.

Both Sultans and Zalmi are playing their second fixture against each other today.

Mohammad Rizwan-led Sultans has beaten all the other teams — Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, and Islamabad United — in the PSL 2022.

Defending champions Sultans seem to be confident ahead of the clash as they aim to hold their first position on the points table.

So far, 10 matches have been played between the two sides, with Sultans pocketing victories in seven matches and Zalmi emerging victorious in three outings.

The match started at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, at 7:30pm.

Playing XI:

Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Abbas Afridi, Imran Tahir, Blessing Muzarabani, Shahnawaz Dahani

Peshawar Zalmi: Kamran Akmal (wk), Liam Livingstone, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Sherfane Rutherford, Ben Cutting, Hussain Talat, Wahab Riaz (c), Saqib Mahmood, Mohammad Umar, Salman Irshad