Multan Sultans won their second game in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight, defeating Peshawar Zalmi by 56 runs in a high-scoring encounter. Sultans posted a formidable total of 210/3 after being put into bat, thanks to magnificent half-centuries by Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw. In response, Zalmi were bowled out for 154 in the 19th over, despite a quickfire half-century by young batter Saim Ayub.
Sultans’ openers, Shan Masood and Rizwan, provided a solid foundation with a gritty 54-run partnership. Masood, who was struggling to score freely, was dismissed for 20 off 25 deliveries. Following Masood’s dismissal, Rizwan partnered with Rossouw to add another vital partnership for his side. Rizwan scored his second half-century of the ongoing season before falling to Sufiyan Muqeem in the 14th over. He scored 66 off 42 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries and a six.
Following Rizwan’s dismissal, Rossouw launched an onslaught on Zalmi’s bowlers, scoring a quickfire 75 off just 36 deliveries, including 12 boundaries and two sixes. His countrymate David Miller (23) and Kieron Pollard (15) carried the momentum in the final over, sealing 19 runs off it to power Sultans to a mammoth total.
Chasing a mammoth 211, Zalmi got off to a flying start with young opener Mohammad Haris charging on Sultans’ bowlers. However, Ihsanullah dented Zalmi’s march on the first delivery of his spell as he trapped Babar Azam in his legs, who could manage just nine with the bat. Haris then kept charging on the bowlers despite an early blow and received equal support from Saim as the pair added a brisk 47 runs for 26 deliveries before a mix-up between the wickets brought an end to Haris’ impressive knock. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 40 off just 23 deliveries with the help of a boundary and four sixes.
Zalmi lost another wicket in quick succession as Usama Mir removed in-form Tom Kohler-Cadmore on just three, forcing Zalmi to slip to 95/1 in the 11th over. Rovman Powell then partnered briefly with Saim as the duo took Zalmi to 130 before Asif Afridi broke the budding partnership by removing the former on 23. Powell’s dismissal triggered a frustrating collapse with Saim also perishing briefly after amassing his half-century before eventually being bowled out on 154 in the 19th over. Saim remained the top-scorer for Zalmi with a quickfire 53 off 37 deliveries, including three boundaries and as many sixes.
Usama and Ihsanullah led the bowling attack for the Sultans with three wickets each, while Abbas had two. Salman Irshad led the bowling attack for Zalmi with two wickets, while Muqeem could pick one.
The Sultans’ comprehensive victory over Zalmi in this high-scoring game has boosted their morale and has put them in a good position in the ongoing PSL season eight.
