Despite the early loss of skipper Mohammad Rizwan to a five-ball duck in the very first over, Multan Sultans maintained an aggressive stance with the bat, reaching 53/1 by the end of the powerplay.
Reeza Hendricks, displaying top form, appeared to be in fluent touch, prompting Lahore Qalandars skipper Shaheen Afridi to turn to Sikandar Raza in an effort to stem the flow of runs.
The Zimbabwean talent conceded just six runs from the first five deliveries, nearly completing an outstanding over, were it not for Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan spoiling his efforts.
Usman Khan managed to guide a length delivery from the middle stump to the square leg-midwicket region for a single, aiming for a quick second run.
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Sensing the urgency, Jahandad and Zaman sprinted from the deep boundary to reach the ball. However, a typical miscommunication between them saw the duo inadvertently crossing paths, allowing the ball to pass between them and roll to the boundary.
This confusion not only enabled the batsmen to complete the second run but also sneak in an unexpected third run. Consequently, Raza vented his frustration at his teammates’ inefficiency, expressing his displeasure in a fit of rage.