Multan Sultans win again as Peshawar Zalmi are overwhelmed

The reigning champions make it five from five and complete a clean sweep during the first half of the group stage after a routine win in Karachi

Karachi: Multan Sultans 222-3, Peshawar Zalmi 156-8 - Multan Sultans won by 57 runs

Scorecard

Multan Sultans' perfect start to the Pakistan Super League title defence continued unabated with a handsome win over Peshawar Zalmi.

In a repeat of the 2021 final, there was a familiar feel to the eventual outcome, as Sultans put on a big first innings score and then put the squeeze on their opponents

In-form opening pair Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan set out in attacking fashion as they put 61 on the board within the powerplay. 

By the time Masood (35) fell in the ninth over the Sultans had made their way to 85. Rizwan continued the onslaught, smashing his way to 82 from 53 deliveries - in turn scoring his third half-century of the tournament - before falling at the hands of Salman Irshad.

The Sultans score was supplemented by Sohaib Maqsood’s fairly pedestrian knock of 25 from 17 deliveries.

Tim David (51 from 19) and Khushdil Shah (21 from 7) set National Stadium alight at the back end of the Sultans’ innings, with the former missing out on the fastest-ever PSL half-century by two deliveries in a knock that included six maximums.

No bowler was safe from the assault by the Sultans top order, as no member of Zalmi’s attack went at less than eight runs per over.

The Sultans wickets fell to Irshad (1 for 38), Shoaib Malik (1 for 17) and Usman Qadir (1 for 34).

Zalmi’s chase of 223 started positively, as the openers made 24 in the first two overs before Kamran Akmal was dismissed by Shahnawaz Dahani for 10 in the third.

^{Tim David rocketed a quick-five half-century (Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images)}

No.3 batter Haider Ali was also dismissed by Dahani with one ball remaining in the fifth over after a cameo of 24 from 12 balls.

Zalmi ended the powerplay four runs worse off than Sultans at the same point, on 58, but crucially, for the loss of two wickets.

More wickets began to tumble as in-form Malik and Sherfane Rutherford were dismissed either side of the 10-over mark off Imran Tahir, and opener Hazratullah Zazai’s wicket for 43 the ball after pretty much confirmed the result.

Sultans further tightened their grip as they took the wickets of Wahab Riaz and Qadir in the 13th and 17th overs.

While Ben Cutting (52 from 31) attempted to fight back, hitting his maiden half-century in this season’s PSL, the target had become insurmountable.

Ultimately Zalmi were beaten convincingly, as they limped to 165 for 8 from 20 overs, submitting to the powerful Sultans side in a 57-run loss.

Tahir (3 for 25) and Dahani (3 for 41) were the pick of the Sultans bowlers, with Blessing Muzarabani and Abbas Afridi each chipping in with one.

The victory extended Sultans unbeaten record in PSL 7 to five from five, completing a clean sweep of their fellow opponents in the first set of fixtures.