Multan Sultans upset Karachi Kings at National Bank Stadium on Sunday night to qualify for the HBL PSL 9 playoffs. Usman Khan leads Sultans to PSL 9 finals. After 189-3 in the first innings, Multan held Karachi to 169-7 to win by 20 runs. After winning the toss, Sultans opted to bat first, and Karachi Kings’ right-arm fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani bowled Reeza Hendricks (13, 8b, 3x4s) straight to Mir Hamza at deep third in the second over. Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan’s 148-run second-wicket stand put Multan in a comfortable position despite the earlier setback.
Usman Khan leads Sultans to PSL 9 finals
Usman took on Muzarabani and Mohammad Nawaz in the powerplay after joining Rizwan at the crease in the second over to assist the team achieve 50 runs in six overs. Multan scored 51 runs in the last five overs and 20 in the 15th over with two sixes and a boundary. Rizwan reached his 63rd T20 half-century after hitting two boundaries in the over. Muzarabani dismissed Rizwan (58, 44b, 5x4s) on the first ball of the 18th over, ending the game-changing partnership.
Iftikhar Ahmed, the following batsman, fell to Muhammad Irfan Khan off Hasan Ali’s bowling in the penultimate over after scoring four runs per ball. Usman scored his second HBL PSL career century with a maximum in the penultimate over to help Multan finish well. The right-arm hitter scored an unbeaten 106 from 59 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and five maximums.
Usman was designated player of the match for his knock. Hasan took one wicket and Muzarabani two. Karachi Kings’ opening batter Tim Seifert (1, 4b) was run out in the second over while chasing 190. James Vince, batting at number three, hit seven off four before edging one to the wicketkeeper off Multan Sultans debutant Chris Jordan. Karachi was 53-2 after the powerplay. Following field limitations, Khushdil Shah and Usama Mir bowled together to break the 47-run third-wicket partnership between Shan Masood and Shoaib Malik.
The former scored 36 on 29 with five boundaries before falling to Usama on the last ball of the ninth over. Shoaib (38, 28b, 5x4s) holed one to Jordan at long-on off Khushdil in the 12th over. Usama’s second wicket came when Leus du Plooy (12, 11b) was caught at cover in the next over. The Kings needed 91 off the last seven overs, so Nawaz joined Irfan in the middle. Irfan smashed two boundaries and a six against Faisal Akram in the 14th over. Karachi lost by 20 overs after scoring 169-7 in 20 overs.
