Multan Sultans secured a decisive seven-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz in the Pakistan Super League, marking their fourth win of the season. This match took place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the Sultans chased down a target of 183 runs in just 16.2 overs.
Rawalpindiz has struggled in the tournament, suffering four consecutive defeats. Now, with six league matches ahead, they will aim to turn their fortunes around as the action shifts to Karachi for the next set of games.
The PSL will feature a total of 22 matches at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from April 8 to April 28. Notably, the Gaddafi Stadium will host matches again on selected dates in April, including the Eliminators and the final, which is scheduled for May 3.
Multan’s chase was bolstered by impressive performances from Sahibzada Farhan and Josh Philippe, who both scored aggressive fifties and formed a formidable century partnership. Contributions from Shan Masood and Ashton Turner helped seal the victory.
Faisal Akram excelled with the ball for Multan, taking four wickets for 31 runs. His performance included key dismissals, establishing him as a standout player in the match and marking his best figures in T20 cricket to date.
In the early stages of the chase, Mohammad Amir quickly removed Steven Smith, who fell to a brilliant catch by Abdullah. This early wicket set the tone, but Sahibzada and Philippe responded effectively. They forged a partnership of 110 runs off just 58 balls, significantly shifting the momentum.
Sahibzada Farhan showcased his skills with a powerful 68 off 38 balls, while Josh Philippe contributed a quickfire 56 off 30 deliveries. Their prowess during the powerplay propelled the Sultans to a solid foundation, as they accumulated 58 runs in that phase alone.
After losing both Sahibzada and Philippe in quick succession, Multan still had a comfortable lead. Shan Masood and Ashton Turner efficiently guided the team to victory, with Shan finishing off the game with a combination of boundaries in the 17th over.
On the other side, Rawalpindiz managed to post a competitive total largely thanks to Sam Billings. Coming in at a challenging position, Billings scored an unbeaten 56 off 34 balls and was instrumental in stabilizing his side’s innings after early setbacks.
Billings’ innings, marked by seven fours and one six, included notable partnerships that helped elevate his team’s score. Despite being reduced to 94-5 at one point, he managed to build crucial stands with lower-order batsmen, showcasing resilience under pressure.
Rawalpindiz’s innings featured a few standout performances, particularly from Kamran Ghulam, who added quick runs but ultimately wasn’t enough to secure a win. The bowling efforts from Faisal Akram and Arafat Minhas proved decisive, as they consistently took wickets and restricted scoring.
In summary, here are the brief scores from the match:
Multan Sultans: 186-3 in 16.2 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 68, Josh Philippe 56, Shan Masood 27 not out, Ashton Turner 26 not out)
Rawalpindiz: 182-9 in 20 overs (Sam Billings 56 not out, Kamran Ghulam 35, Dian Forrester 24; Faisal Akram 4-31, Arafat Minhas 2-22)
Faisal Akram was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance that played a crucial role in Multan’s victory.