MULTAN: A combined batting and bowling effort led Peshawar Zalmi to a narrow five-run victory over leaders Multan Sultans in the ninth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday.

  Peshawar Zalmi’s first victory in the ongoing season marked the end of Multan Sultans’ winning streak, who had won the opening three matches on the trot. Chasing a mammoth 180, the Sultans’ batting unit folded on 174 despite Dawid Malan’s blistering half-century. The home side had a dismal start to the run chase as they lost their captain Mohammad Rizwan (0) in the third over with just seven runs on the board. Young opener Yasir Khan then put on an anchoring 45-run partnership with Reeza Hendricks before Salman Irshad got him caught behind in the ninth over. Yasir scored 43 off 37 deliveries, hitting six boundaries. Coming out to bat at No.4, Dawid Malan launched a baton charge on the Zalmi bowlers with belligerent hitting. The left-handed batter smashed three boundaries and as many sixes on his way to a 25-ball 52. He also put on an important 70-run partnership with Hendricks (28) before both perished in successive overs, resulting in Sultans slipping to 129/4 in 15.5 overs. Their back-to-back dismissal sparked a collapse and the visitors began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, three out of which came in an entertaining 17th over, bowled by Arif Yaqoob. Iftikhar Ahmed fought hard to turn the tide for the Sultans but perished on the penultimate when the hosts needed six more. He scored 16 off just eight deliveries. Naveen-ul-Haq castled Shahnawaz Dahani on the final delivery to register a much-needed victory for the Zalmi. Yaqoob led the bowling attack for Zalmi with three wickets, followed by Salman Irshad, Luke Wood and Haq, who took two each. Opting to bat first, a collective effort from the Zalmi batters registered a formidable total on the board despite regular blows.

The visitors had a cautious start to their innings, specifically due to Saim Ayub, finding it hard to get going. The left-handed batter eventually perished in the fourth over after scoring a scratchy seven off 11 deliveries.

Babar Azam then partnered strongly with Haseebullah and bolstered the total. The duo added 46 runs off just 28 deliveries before Usama Mir castled the former in the ninth over with 72 runs on the board. Zalmi’s captain made 26 off 31 deliveries with the help of five boundaries. Mir struck again in his next over to dismiss the other set batter Haseebullah, who remained the top-scorer for the Zalmi with an 18-ball 37, laced up with four boundaries and two sixes. Later, Mohammad Haris (19), Paul Walter (16) and Rovman Powell (23) made notable contributions with brisk cameos as Zalmi set Sultans to chase 180. For Sultans, Mohammad Ali, David Willey and Mir claimed two wickets each while Shahnawaz Dahani and Abbas Afridi struck out a batter apiece.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 24 2024

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