Multan Sultans secured a place in their third consecutive Pakistan Super League final with a resounding 84-run victory over Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night. Kieron Pollard played a crucial role in the win, smashing six sixes in his 34-ball 57 to propel Multan Sultans to 160 for five. In response, Lahore Qalandars struggled to get going and lost wickets at regular intervals. Sheldon Cottrell’s three wickets derailed their run chase and they were eventually bowled out for a paltry 76 in only 14.3 overs, the lowest-ever PSL total scored on Pakistani soil.
Multan Sultans had a slow start, only managing 46 runs in the Powerplay, and the introduction of Rashid Khan in the middle-overs further tightened the grip as they could score 51 in the next nine overs at the loss of three wickets. However, over the last five overs, they added 63 to the total. Usman Khan (29 off 28) was the first wicket to fall in the eighth over, followed by Rilee Rossouw (10) and Mohammad Rizwan (33) in the 11th and 13th over, respectively. Pollard’s late surge, which included three sixes off Shaheen Afridi’s penultimate over, propelled Multan Sultans to a competitive total.
In reply, Lahore Qalandars’ top-order failed to fire, with only three batters posting double-digit scores. Cottrell removed Mirza Tahir Baig and Abdullah Shafique in the third over, while Anwar Ali bowled a beautiful delivery that nipped back off the length to bowl Fakhar Zaman. Shaheen’s wild heave ended in Usman’s hands at point as Cottrell picked his third wicket in the fifth over and Lahore Qalandars slumped to 28 for four. Hussain Talat’s lazy stroll towards the striker’s end ended in a run out, and at the halfway mark of the innings, Lahore Qalandars were six down for 44. Sam Billings was the top run-getter with 19, but his dismissal in the 11th over off Ihsanullah triggered a collapse, with Usama Mir and Abbas Afridi cleaning up the tail.
Multan Sultans’ dominant victory earned Pollard the player of the match award, and they will now wait to face the winner of the first Eliminator between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in the final.
Scores in brief:
Multan Sultans 160-5, 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 57, Mohammad Rizwan 33, Usman Khan 29, Tim David 22 not out; Haris Rauf 3-34)
Lahore Qalandars 76 all out, 14.3 overs (Sheldon Cottrell 3-20, Usama Mir 2-12)
Player of the match – Kieron Pollard (Multan Sultans)
Leave a Reply