In pursuit of a challenging target of 205 runs, Multan Sultans faced early setbacks as Reeza Hendricks departed during the powerplay. Yet, the Sultans’ middle order exhibited resilience, forging stable partnerships.
Despite the setback, Zalmi’s bowlers staged a strong comeback, dismissing Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, and Dawid Malan. All eyes turned to Iftikhar Ahmad to spark the team’s victory, with the score at 147/5 in 17 overs.
In a gripping moment during the 17th over of the second innings in Rawalpindi, Aamer Jamal took charge of the ball. Iftikhar, with bold strokes, smashed three powerful sixes on the first, fourth, and fifth deliveries, guiding his team steadily towards triumph. The crowd erupted into chants of Iftikhar’s name, echoing throughout the stadium.
However, the euphoria quickly faded in the last delivery of Jamal’s over. A menacing bouncer from the 33-year-old caught Iftikhar off guard as he attempted a pull shot, resulting in a thud on the back of his neck by the speeding ball. Jamal immediately expressed remorse, and the electrified Rawalpindi crowd fell silent.
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With prompt intervention from the physio, the situation was swiftly addressed. Peshawar’s captain, Babar Azam, was seen consoling Iftikhar with a reassuring pat, helping him recover from the impact.