LAHORE: Mohammad Rizwan scored a gritty half-century to help Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by six wickets and strengthen their top position in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7.
Set to chase a paltry 106, the table-toppers have had an unwanted start as the side lost four wickets for a mere 43.
Sultans’ skipper Rizwan alongside David Willey, however, then anchored the run chase with an unbeaten 68-runs partnership. Willey played a sensible knock of 28 runs off 32 balls, while Rizwan top-scored with his magnificent 51 off 42 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and a six off the final delivery of the match.
For the United, Liam Dawson provided a glimmer of hope; taking three quick wickets, while Zahid Mahmood picked up a wicket on his debut for the United.
After opting to bat first, the United batters could only manage to post 105/7 in the allotted 20 overs.
Coming out to bat, the United’s openers Nasir Nawaz and Mohammad Huraira failed to provide a delightful start to their side as Asif Afridi managed to break the opening pair in the third over and Huraira departed after scoring a mere two.
Following his departure, the side kept losing wickets at an alarming rate and went a little too defensive in the proceedings. None of the United batters could contribute significantly to pull their side out of the danger.
English batter Dawson chipped in a bit with his brief cameo of 22 runs off just 11 balls, while Mohammad Musa, down the order, top-scored for the side with an unbeaten 26 off 21 deliveries; smashing two boundaries and as many sixes.
For the Sultans, Asif and Imran Tahir bagged two wickets each, while Willey, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Tim David struck out a batter each.
Despite a humiliating defeat and having the same number of points as Quetta Gladiators, the United are through to the PSL 7 play-offs, thanks to a better net run rate.
