Multan Sultans Secure Thrilling Victory over Lahore Qalandars

In a thrilling encounter, Multan Sultans clinched a sensational five-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 9 clash at Multan Cricket Stadium. Led by a brilliant captain’s knock from Mohammad Rizwan and a fiery cameo by Iftikhar Ahmed, Multan successfully chased down the highest total in PSL history at their home ground, delighting the fans with their third consecutive win in the tournament.

Match Summary: Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars got off to a solid start, thanks to contributions from Fakhar Zaman and Rassie van der Dussen. However, a disciplined bowling effort from Multan Sultans restricted Lahore to a competitive total of 166-5 in 20 overs. In response, Multan faced early setbacks but rallied brilliantly, led by Mohammad Rizwan’s sublime innings and Iftikhar Ahmed’s explosive batting, to chase down the target with an over to spare.

Key Performances:

• Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans): Rizwan played a captain’s innings, scoring a magnificent 82 runs off 59 deliveries, anchoring the chase and guiding his team to victory.
• Iftikhar Ahmed (Multan Sultans): Ahmed played a crucial cameo, smashing an unbeaten 34 off just 11 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes, to propel Multan towards the target.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars): Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Lahore, claiming two crucial wickets while conceding only 25 runs in his spell.

Turning Point:

• Iftikhar Ahmed’s blistering assault in the 19th over, where he smashed Zaman Khan for five consecutive boundaries, shifted the momentum firmly in Multan Sultans’ favor, ultimately leading them to victory.

Impactful Bowling:

• Mohammad Ali led the bowling attack for Multan Sultans, picking up two crucial wickets and keeping the Lahore batsmen in check during the middle overs.
• Abbas Afridi and Usama Mir also made significant contributions, taking crucial wickets to restrict Lahore to a manageable total.

Conclusion: Multan Sultans displayed character and resilience to chase down a challenging total against Lahore Qalandars, showcasing their batting depth and determination. Mohammad Rizwan’s stellar leadership and Iftikhar Ahmed’s explosive batting were instrumental in securing the victory for Multan, reaffirming their status as strong contenders in the tournament.

Next Fixture: The action continues with Quetta Gladiators taking on Islamabad United in what promises to be another exciting contest at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.