DUBAI – Multan Sultans made a remarkable comeback and defeated Islamabad United by five wickets in the fourth match of Pakistan Super League 2019 (PSL) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium today (Saturday).
Earlier, maginificent bowling spell from Multan Sultans had restricted Islamabad United to 125 runs.
Islamabad bowlers scrapped hard, and in the end, Multan needed the experience of two most able finishers in recent times to finish this off. Masood started off well, but fell to some mindless running. Evans and Azam just didn’t get their timing going. But then Russell and Afridi came in with lusty blows, while Malik played the anchor’s role to perfection in getting Multan their first win of the tournamant.
For Multan Sultans, fast bowler Junaid Khan, Ali Shafiq and leg spinner Shahid Afridi took two wickets each.
In the first innings, Islamabad United’s Luke Ronchi scored 51 off 33 balls but no other batsman in the opening and middle order could score significant runs.
Tailenders Samit Patel and Faheem Ashraf dragged the score to 125 with ther 29-run partner ship.
Chasing the low score, Skipper Malik (31) and and all-rounder Shahid Afridi (16) wrapped the match in 19th over.
Multan Sultans Squad (Playing XI): Shan Masood, Johnson Charles(w), Laurie Evans, Shoaib Malik(c), Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi, Hammad Azam, Chris Green, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Ali Shafiq
Islamabad United Squad (Playing XI): Luke Ronchi(w), Rizwan Hussain, Cameron Delport, Philip Salt, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Samit Patel, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Sami(c), Waqas Maqsood
Islamabad United team remained unchanged, whereas, Ali Shafiq and Johnson Charles were called in to replace Moores and Ilyas in Multan Sultans squad.
YESTERDAY’S MATCH RESULTS
In the first match on Friday, Karachi Kings defeated Multan Sultans by seven runs in Dubai. Kings had set a victory target of 184 runs for Multan Sultans.
In the second match, Quetta Gladiators defeated Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets. Batting first, Peshawar Zalmi scored 155 runs for the loss of four wickets in stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Quetta Gladiators achieved the target in 19.4 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Pakistan Super League fixtures
Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings – February 16, Dubai
Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators – February 17, Dubai
Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars – February 17, Dubai
Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators – February 20, Sharjah
Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings – February 21, Sharjah
Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans – February 22, Sharjah
Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi – February 22, Sharjah
Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars – February 23, Sharjah
Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings – February 23, Sharjah
Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi – February 24, Sharjah
Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings – February 24, Sharjah
Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans – February 26, Dubai
Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators – February 27, Dubai
Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United – February 27, Dubai
Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi – February 28, Dubai
Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars – February 28, Dubai
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United – March 1, Dubai
Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators – March 1, Dubai
Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi – March 4, Abu Dhabi
Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans – March 4, Abu Dhabi
Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi – March 5, Abu Dhabi
Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United – March 5, Abu Dhabi
Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi – March 7, Karachi
Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United – March 9, Lahore
Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators – March 10, Karachi
Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans – March 10, Lahore
Pakistan Super League playoffs
Eliminator 1 (3v4) – March 12, Lahore
Qualifier (1v2) – March 13, Karachi
Eliminator 2 – March 15, Karachi
Final – March 17, Karachi