KARACHI: Muhammad Rizwan smashed an unbeaten half-century as Multan Sultans crushed Karachi Kings by seven wickets in opening match of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition.
Rizwan played a captain’s knock as he scored 52 off 47 balls, while batter Sohaib Maqsood scored 30 (31) to put up a 63 runs partnership. The Kings’ bowlers could not perform up to the mark as they were already under pressure after Babar-led side handed a meagre 124-run target to the Sultans.
Mohammad Nabi took two wickets and Mohammad Ilyas took one for the Kings.
Earlier, Multan Sultans restricted Karachi Kings to 124/5 as Imran Tahir took some three wickets for the defending champions.
The defending champions made a breakthrough in the 10th over when Tahir picked up the first and crucial wicket of Sharjeel Khan (43). Later, Khushdil Shah dismissed Babar in the next over (23), piling up pressure on the Sultans.
Mohammad Nabi was the third man to go for 10 of 17 balls and the man to dismiss him was Tahir. In the same over, the veteran spinner picked up the wicket of Tom Lammonby (1). Joe Clarke (26) was dismissed by Shahnawaz Dahani in the 18th over.
Head to head:
Overall, nine matches have been played between the two sides, with the Kings winning five and the Multan Sultans pocketing victories in two games. One match did not yield any result while one was abandoned.
Playing XI:
Karachi Kings: Babar Azam (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Joe Clarke (wk), Muhammad Nabi, Tom Lammbony, Lewis Gregory, Amir Yamin, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Taha, Umaid Asif and Muhammad Ilyas.
Multan Sultans: Muhammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Rille Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Tim David, David Willey, Imran Tahir, Imran Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Ihsanullah.
