PSL 2024: Iftikhar Ahmed’s overdue blitz seal the deal for Multan Sultans towards Lahore Qalandars

A breezy cameo via Iftikhar Ahmed and a preventing half-century via skipper Mohammad Rizwan helped Multan Sultans win their 0.33 recreation at the trot in HBL PSL 9, on Wednesday night time at Multan Cricket Stadium.

The protecting champions, Lahore Qalandars, in the meantime misplaced their 0.33 consecutive recreation within the match as Sultans finished the best possible a success chase in HBL PSL historical past at their house floor.

In pursuit of the 167-run chase, Multan Sultans discovered themselves in early hassle. Shaheen Shah Afridi began with a maiden over, whilst Zaman Khan eked out the scalp of Dawid Malan for a golden duck within the following over with the magnificent yorker. Shaheen returned to take away the harmful Reeza Hendricks (9, 7b, 2x4s), who holed out to Fakhar Zaman in additional quilt leaving Multan 15-2 in 2.5 overs.

Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan stitched a 38-run third-wicket partnership to deliver a semblance of balance to the Multan innings. George Linde struck at the remaining ball of the 8th over to brush aside Yasir (8, 13b, 1×4), who was once stumped looking to hit down the bottom.

David Willey walked out to bat at quantity 5 and stitched a a very powerful partnership with Rizwan, striking on a precious 75 off 51 balls. The Multan skipper took price towards spinners and pacers alike whilst conserving the innings in combination.

With the desired run charge creeping up, Zaman controlled the much-needed step forward for his group as he brushed aside Rizwan (82, 59b, 9x4s, 3x6s), courtesy of a positive catch via Linde at deep midwicket with the scorecard studying 128-4.

The 18th over noticed Iftikhar and Willey hitting a boundary and a six respectively earlier than Willey (25, 23b, 1×4, 1×6) was once pinned leg-before wicket via Shaheen.

With 21 runs required off the remaining two overs, Iftikhar went berserk within the nineteenth over, hitting Zaman left, proper and middle for 5 consecutive cracking pictures that concerned 3 limitations and two huge sixes.

Iftikhar completed the sport with one over to spare and an unbeaten 11-ball 34 to his title. For Lahore, Shaheen and Zaman bagged two wickets every whilst Linde struck as soon as.

Previous, after successful the toss and electing to bat first of their first away recreation of the HBL PSL 9, Lahore Qalandars copped an early blow. In the second one over, the outlet batter, Sahibzada Farhan slashed at a back-of-length supply which brought on a pointy edge, taken safely at the second one slip via Iftikhar off the bowling of Mohammad Ali.

With a forged get started for Multan Sultans, Fakhar Zaman and Rassie van der Dussen took it upon themselves to take the group out of hassle. They attacked Ali, Willey and Shahnawaz Dahani to up the ante and end the powerplay on a prime word with the scorecard studying 49-1. Fakhar seemed in his part, smashing two limitations and as many sixes within the powerplay.

Van der Dussen introduced up his moment HBL PSL fifty off 34 balls within the twelfth over as he hit Abbas Afridi for a boundary in opposition to midwicket. The duo placed on a considerable second-wicket partnership of 94 runs off 66 balls earlier than Usama Mir struck to take away van der Dussen (54, 37b, 4x4s, 2x6s) off a super ball that pitched outdoor off and took the threshold to finally end up in Rizwan’s gloves.

Sikandar Raza joined Fakhar within the heart and were given off the blocks early after hitting Iftikhar for 2 limitations within the 14th over. An over later Fakhar (41, 36b, 2x4s, 2x6s) departed after top-edging a ball to Rizwan off Abbas’ bowling, leaving Lahore 114-3.

Sikandar (23, 16b, 4x4s) seemed to stay the run waft intact however he too fell prey to Ali, within the seventeenth over whilst looking to transparent the long-on boundary.

Jahandad Khan’s nine-ball keep on the crease yielded 16 runs comprising of a solitary towering six, earlier than he was once run out after he didn’t make his floor on the non-striker’s finish.

Carlos Braithwaite (15 no longer out, 8b, 1×4, 1×6) chipped in with a cameo that helped Qalandars scrape thru to a aggressive general of 166-5 within the allocated 20 overs. Multan’s pacer Ali picked up two wickets, taking his tally of HBL PSL 9 scalps to 8, whilst Abbas and Usama brushed aside one batter every.

Ratings briefly

Multan Sultans beat Lahore Qalandars via 5 wickets

Lahore Qalandars 166-5, 20 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 54, Fakhar Zaman 41; Mohammad Ali 2-28)

Multan Sultans 170-5, 19 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 82, Iftikhar Ahmed 34 no longer out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-25)