LAHORE, Feb 27 (APP):Multan Sultans bowlers led by Australian Daniel Christian delivered when it mattered the most to help revive their team’s dwindling fortunes during their six wicket win over Islamabad United in
the HBL PSL in Dubai on Tuesday night.
Action resumed in the six-team league after a day’s rest as Christian (3-19), left-arm spinner Nauman (2-14), rookie paceman Mohammad Ilyas (2-21) and veteran Shahid Afridi (2-37) blow away the defending champions for 121 all out in 17.4 overs after they were put into bat, said the information made available here on Wednesday by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Multan then rode on a mature innings of 46 by opener Umer Siddiq
off 45 balls with five boundaries and a six to overhaul the target in
18.1 overs for their only second win in six games. They had lost four
ames and were in the relegation zone. Multan are now fourth with four points is six matches.
The defeat still kept the two-time champions Islamabad to third
with three wins and as many defeats in six matches. Quetta Gladiators continue to lead the six-team table with eight points, having won four of their five matches with one defeat.
Peshawar Zalmi are second with six points in five matches (three
wins and two defeats), Lahore Qalandars fifth (four points in five
games, two wins and three defeats) while Karachi Kings are sixth
(four points, three defeats and two wins in five).
Siddiq made sure the good work by bowlers is not spoiled as he
put on 54 with James Vince who made 17-ball 28 with five boundaries.
West Indian Johnson Charles was trapped by Shadab Khan — once again captaining the side in the absence of an injured Mohammad Sami
for four.
But skipper Shoaib Malik, who made a patient 32-ball 23 not out,
gave good company to young Siddiq as they took the score to 99 when
Siddiq fell. Malik kept his nerves to get Multan over the line.
Christian said getting wicket upfront helped.
“It was an all round performance from all of us,” said Christian. “Getting wickets upfront helped and getting Ronchi was good.”
Malik praised his bowling. “We expect good bowling from our bowlers, so that was the
plus point and helped us restrict them,” said Malik.
Shadab said Islamabad lost too many wickets in the power-play. “If you lose three to four wickets in the power-play then its tough to stage a comeback,” said Shadab.
Islamabad never got going, losing Cameroon Delport in Ilays’s first over. Luke Ronchi hit a 16-ball 32 with six boundaries and a six before becoming rookie paceman Ilyas’s second wicket.
Samit Patel with 20 and Asif Ali (12-ball 22 with three sixes)
looked good initially but both threw away good starts with one shot
too many. Afridi dismissed Patel and Hussain Talat for eight.
Christian removed Asif, Rumman Raees (naught) and Mohammad
Musa (two) to dismiss Islamabad in 17.4 overs.
Wednesday will see another double header in the league with
Quetta facing Lahore and Islamabad returning for their match against Karachi Kings.
Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by six wickets in HBL PSL
Brief Scores: Islamabad United 121 all out in 17.4 overs (L. Ronchi 32, D. Christian 3-19)
Multan Sultans 122-4 in 18.1 overs ( Umar Siddiq 46)
