The decision of Multan Sultans to field first paid off handsomely as they swiftly dismantled Islamabad United’s opening duo, Alex Hales and Colin Munro. David Willey and Mohammad Ali from Multan set the tone with two quick wickets, leaving United struggling at 32/2 at the end of the powerplay.
Jordan Cox and Agha Salman then steadied the ship with a commendable 50-run partnership, guiding United to 67/2 after 10 overs. However, the game’s momentum shifted when Usama Mir of Multan dismissed Cox with an LBW, causing a brief chaos as Cox walked off without waiting for the DRS replay.
Despite Salman’s resilient 52 off 43 balls, United faltered at 105/5 in 14.4 overs as wickets continued to tumble. The collapse of the middle and lower order intensified as Multan’s Abbas Afridi and Mohammad Ali wreaked havoc, both claiming three wickets each. In the end, Multan Sultans showcased brilliant death bowling, restricting Islamabad United to a modest 144 runs in 20 overs.
In pursuit of 145 runs, Multan Sultans faced an initial setback when Islamabad’s pace maestro, Naseem Shah, exhibited his skill by dismissing Dawid Malan with a sublime late-swinging delivery. Following Malan’s early departure, Multan found stability in the capable hands of their skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, and the composed Reeza Hendricks, guiding their side to 44/1 by the conclusion of the powerplay.
The Rizwan-Hendricks partnership flourished, accumulating a substantial 71-run stand, propelling their team to a commanding 77/1 by the 10th over. However, in the 11th over, Shadab Khan intervened decisively, removing Rizwan with the very first delivery and sending him back to the pavilion.
Yasir Khan made a brief contribution but couldn’t prolong his innings, departing after scoring eight off 11 balls. Nonetheless, Hendricks and Iftikhar Ahmed combined forces, guiding their team to a total of 100/3 by the 15th over. Hendricks then showcased a remarkable shift in momentum during the slog overs, crafting a splendid half-century off 43 balls.
— Shanaka Kundu (@KunduShanaka) February 23, 2024
With 21 runs needed off the final three overs, the Sultans exhibited unwavering determination, poised to clinch victory. Ultimately, the Multan Sultans secured their second win of the season with a five-wicket triumph, earning crucial two points in the process.
