ABU DHABI: Multan Sultans defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs to win the Pakistan Super League (PSL) sixth edition at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening.
Sohaib Maqsood celebrated his national call-up with his fifth half-century of the tournament, while Rilee Rossouw saved his very best for the grand finale as Sultan won their maiden PSL title.
Sohaib was given a lifeline when he was dropped by Hazratullah Zazai on six in the 11th over and struck six fours and three sixes in an electrifying 35-ball 65 not out, while Rossouw clobbered five fours and three sixes in a swashbuckling 21-ball 50 to steer Multan Sultans to a record 206 for four in 20 overs.
Peshawar, needing over 10 runs an over from the onset, made a spirited reply with Kamran Akmal racing to 36 before Hazratullah hit his first scoring-shot – a six off Blessing Muzarabani – before being dismissed a ball later.
Five balls later, Kamran was cleaned up by Imran Khan Snr as Peshawar Zalmi slipped from 36 for no loss in five overs to 42 to two and then 63 for three at the halfway stage to eventually finish at 159 for nine in 20 overs.
ITS OURS!
ITS DONE!
A DREAM REALISED!
Congratulations #Sultans on becoming the Champions ???? of @thePSLt20 #HBLPSL6 #MSvPZ #SultanAaGayya #HBLPSLFinal pic.twitter.com/er7JdtP7BA
— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) June 24, 2021
Shoaib Malik and Rovman Powell put up a brief middle-order resistance and fightback in a 66-run partnership, but it was Multan Sultans’ evening as Imran Tahir finished with figures of three for 33, Blessing Muzarabani claimed with two for 26 and Imran Khan Snr bagged two for 27.
Multan Sultans swept the individual awards of the PSL 2021, which was a recognition and reward for their outstanding comeback in the tournament.
Sohaib clinched the player of the final and player of the tournament trophies along with the best batsman of the tournament award, Shahnawaz Dahani was adjudged the best bowler and best emerging cricketer of the tournament.
Mohammad Rizwan was named the best wicketkeeper of the tournament by an independent panel. Iftikhar Ahmed of Islamabad United disrupted Sultans’ dominance on the individual awards by winning the best fielder of the tournament trophy.
Sohaib and Rossouw played breathtaking knocks in their 98-run third wicket partnership off 44 balls to set a record total in a PSL final of 206 for four in 20 overs.
The picture cannot quite encapsulate the emotions ????????#HBLPSL6 #MSvPZ #HBLPSL6Final pic.twitter.com/cs4Aq0asfF
— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) June 24, 2021
Scores in brief:
Multan Sultans defeat Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs in the final
Multan Sultans 206-4, 20 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 65 not out, Rilee Rossouw 50, Shan Masood 37, Mohammad Rizwan 30; Sameen Gul 2-26, Mohammad Imran 2-47)
Peshawar Zalmi 159 for nine, 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 48, Kamran Akmal 36, Rovman Powell 23, Sherfane Rutherford 18; Imran Tahir 3-33; Blessing Muzarabani 2-26, Imran Khan 2-27)
Player of the final – Sohaib Maqsood (Multan Sultans)
Player of PSL 2021 – Sohaib Maqsood (Multan Sultans) (428 runs)
