Multan Sultans beat Rawalpindiz by seven wickets in PSL clash

LAHORE: Multan Sultans continued their strong run in the HBL Pakistan Super League with a seven-wicket win over Rawalpindiz at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday night, chasing down 183 with 22 balls remaining.

The chase was led by half-centuries from Sahibzada Farhan and Josh Philippe, whose second-wicket partnership put Multan firmly in control after the early loss of Steven Smith.

Farhan scored 68 from 38 balls, hitting four fours and five sixes, while Philippe made 56 off 30 deliveries with six fours and three sixes. After Smith was dismissed for five, the pair added 110 runs for the second wicket and took the game away from Rawalpindiz.

Farhan reached his fifty in the ninth over with a six off Rishad Hossain. Philippe also accelerated during the stand before he was dismissed by Mohammad Amir in the 11th over, with Sam Billings taking the catch.

After Philippe’s departure, Shan Masood and captain Ashton Turner completed the chase. Shan remained unbeaten on 27 off 15 balls, striking two fours and a six, while Turner made an unbeaten 26 from 10 balls, including a four and two sixes. The pair added 47 runs as Multan finished on 186-3 in 16.2 overs.

Rawalpindiz post 182-8 after being sent in

Earlier, Rawalpindiz made 182 for eight after Multan opted to bowl first. Their innings featured contributions through the order, but regular wickets prevented them from building longer partnerships.

Faisal Akram was the standout bowler for Multan, taking 4-31 in four overs and earning player-of-the-match honours. The left-arm wrist spinner dismissed Abdullah Fazal for 14, Kamran Ghulam for 35, Daryl Mitchell for 17 and Asif Afridi for seven.

Rawalpindiz began with Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan adding 15 in the first two overs before Mohammad Ismail bowled Yasir for five. Rizwan made 19, while Kamran added 35 off 24 balls, including two sixes, before he was caught at square leg off Faisal.

Abdullah Fazal contributed 14 and Daryl Mitchell scored 17, but both also fell to Faisal as Rawalpindiz slipped to 94-5.

Dian Forrester then provided momentum with 24 off 11 balls. He struck three sixes in an over against Mohammad Nawaz and helped push the total beyond 110 before Peter Siddle dismissed him for 24, with Nawaz taking the catch at deep mid-wicket.

Sam Billings then anchored the latter part of the innings with an unbeaten 56 from 34 balls, including seven fours and a six. His effort, along with Forrester’s late hitting, lifted Rawalpindiz to a competitive total.

Arafat Minhas supported Faisal with figures of 2-22, while Siddle also picked up a wicket. For Multan, the bowling figures were Mohammad Nawaz 2-0-29-0, Siddle 4-0-31-1, Mohammad Ismail 2-0-24-1, Arafat 4-0-22-2, Mohammad Wasim Jr 4-0-44-0 and Faisal 4-0-31-4.

Score summary

Rawalpindiz were bowled out for 182 for eight in 20 overs. Their batting card read: Mohammad Rizwan 19, Yasir Khan 5, Kamran Ghulam 35, Abdullah Fazal 14, Daryl Mitchell 17, Sam Billings not out 56, Dian Forrester 24, Rishad Hossain 1, Asif Afridi 7 and Amir Khan not out 0. Extras were 4.

Multan Sultans replied with 186 for three in 16.2 overs. Their scorers were Sahibzada Farhan 68, Steven Smith 5, Josh Philippe 56, Shan Masood not out 27 and Ashton Turner not out 26. Extras were 4.

According to the official result, Multan Sultans won by seven wickets, with Faisal Akram named man of the match.

The next PSL fixture will be played in Karachi, where Hyderabad Kingsmen are scheduled to face Peshawar Zalmi at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.