Arafat Minhas played a pivotal role in Multan Sultans’ victory over Karachi Kings, securing an 11-run win in Match 28 of the Pakistan Super League. This match took place at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon and showcased Minhas’s all-round capabilities.
The 21-year-old bowler contributed significantly with the ball, taking three wickets for 32 runs. He claimed key wickets early in the game, dismissing both Jason Roy and Salman Ali Agha during the powerplay. Additionally, Minhas made his presence felt in the field with two crucial run outs and provided stability in the batting order with a quick-fire 17 off 12 balls. This performance helped Multan consolidate their position in the league, now standing second with 10 points from seven matches.
Karachi Kings’ performance faltered as they faced their fourth consecutive defeat, managing to score 196 runs before being bowled out in 19.4 overs. This left them in seventh place in the standings. Despite a promising start in their innings, they struggled to keep pace with Multan’s total of 207 runs for seven wickets.
In a bid to chase down Multan’s imposing total, Karachi Kings lost Jason Roy for 16 runs in the third over, caught off Arafat’s bowling. Salman Ali Agha followed soon after, bowled for just two runs. Saad Baig attempted to steady the innings with a score of 21 from 15 balls but fell victim to Peter Siddle, leaving Karachi reeling at 47 for three during the powerplay.
Reeza Hendricks and Moeen Ali provided a glimmer of hope with a crucial 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Hendricks top-scored for Karachi with 49 runs, while Moeen Ali chipped in with 27. However, despite their efforts, the innings crumbled, and Multan’s bowlers managed to maintain control in the final overs despite a late flurry of runs from Mohammad Abbas Afridi, who scored 34 off 16 balls, and Hasan Ali, who added 23 off 10 balls.
The match statistics reflect Multan Sultans’ effective batting and bowling strategies, underscoring their ability to perform under pressure. Multan’s top scores came from Shan Masood, who made 46 runs, and Josh Philippe with 44, supplemented by Muhammad Awais Zafar’s solid 36 and Muhammad Imran’s unbeaten 26. For Karachi, alongside Hendricks’s 49, notable contributions included Afridi and Ali’s late innings effort.
In summary, Multan Sultans maintained their momentum in the Pakistan Super League with this hard-fought victory against Karachi Kings, exemplifying their skill and resilience on the field.