Multan Sultans on Sunday beat Islamabad United by 52 in the seventh match of the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) eighth edition at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
David Miller’s lightning-quick 25-ball 52 and Abbas Afridi’s charge through the Islamabad United batting order gave Multan Sultans an easy victory.
In the 17th over, Miller hit three maximums in three balls to Islamabad United skipper Shadab Khan (1-42) and reached his fifty in 23 balls to give the Sultans the lead.
Kieron Pollard also played a sweet cameo of 32 runs from 21 balls and smacked three fours on the last three deliveries off Mohammad Wasim’s final over.
Miller and Pollard thrashed the United bowlers in the latter part of the innings as the two gathered 78 runs from 40 balls between the 13th and 20th over helping the Sultans to pile up 88 runs in the last six overs.
Miller of South Africa hit three fours and four sixes during his ferocious innings before being bowled out by Wasim in the penultimate over.
After being given the opportunity to bat, Multan Sultans had a miserable start to their game when opener Shan Masood was dismissed by Ruman Raees in the very first over.
After that, Multan Sultans’ captain Rizwan held down the fort and partnered with Rilee Rossouw, who hit 36 from 30 balls, in a strong 91-run partnership.
Rizwan scored 50 from 38 balls laced with five fours before Shadab plumbed him lbw in the 13th over.
United, however, remained unimpressive with the ball as their spin mainstay Shadab leaked 42 runs in three overs while Wasim conceded 49 runs in his full quota.
Playing XI:Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (C,WK), Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Carlos Brathwaite, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Ilyas.
Islamabad United: Paul Stirling, Hassan Nawaz, Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (WK), Shadab Khan (C), Tom Curran, Faheem Ashraf, Rumman Raees, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
