Multan Sultans trump Peshawar Zalmi to confirm playoff berth
Multan Sultans Friday defeated Peshawar Zalmi by four wickets during the 27th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023, being played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Rilee Rossouw was unstoppable with the bat as he helped Multan Sultans set a new record run-chase in Pakistan Super League (PSL).
During 27th match in the ongoing PSL 8, another record was set as Multan chased down 243 runs against Peshawar Zalmi. Just a couple of days ago, Quetta Gladiators chased down record 241 runs against the same team.
Rossouw was phenomenal as he also broke his own record of fastest century in PSL. The left-handed batter scored hundred off just 41 balls. His previous record was 41-ball century against Quetta Gladiators in 2020.
The left-handed batter scored 121 runs laced with 12 boundaries and eight sixes to help Multan chase down a mammoth total with five balls to spare.
In absence of regular skipper Babar Azam, who missed fielding due to fever, Peshawar took two early wickets. But, Rossouw alongside Kieron Pollard scored 99 runs off just 43 balls together to turn the game around for their team.
Pollard scored a magnificent fifty to help Multan get to that big total. He smashed 52 runs off 25 balls including five maximums and three boundaries.
It was Anwar Ali, in the end, finishing the game for Multan. Anwar, who bowled the joint second-most expensive spell in PSL today, contributed for his team with the bat. He remained not out for a match-winning 24 runs off just eight balls.
Azmatullah Omarzai bagged two wickets while Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Arshad Iqbal, Wahab Riaz and Saim Ayub shared a wicket apiece for Peshawar.
Earlier, Peshawar’s openers Babar and Saim set the perfect tone for their team to set another big total.
Babar and Saim scored 134 runs together to help Peshawar post 242-6 in 20 overs which is also now the second-highest total in this year’s PSL.
The skipper scored a fifty with an improved strike-rate whereas Saim once again dominated from the front. Babar scored 73 runs including nine boundaries and two maximums whereas Saim made 58 off 33.
Mohammad Haris, Peshawar’s wicket-keeper batter, scored a quick 35 off 11 balls to contribute crucial runs to team’s big total. In the end, Tom Kohler-Cadmore played a firepower knock of 38 off 18 balls.
Abbas Afridi remained pick of the bowlers for Multan as he bagged four wickets.
Playing XIs
Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris (wk), Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Aamer Jamal, Wahab Riaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Arshad Iqbal
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell, Ihsanullah