Image Credit- PSL
In the Pakistan Super League on Wednesday, the Multan
Sultans continued their incredible start by handily defeating the reigning
champion Lahore Qalandars for the third time in a row. In a rematch of last
season’s championship event, Sultans defeated defending champions Qalandars by
five wickets thanks to a stunning 24 runs in the penultimate over from Iftikhar
Ahmed.
Now, in three straight games, Qalandars’ highly anticipated pace attack—headed
by Shaheen Shah Afridi—has failed to mount a defence, with Haris Rauf
continuing to struggle and Zaman Khan also proving costly (2–52).
With three straight home victories, Sultans now hold a
commanding six-point lead in the standings, while Qalandars have yet to record
a victory.
After being dropped by Afridi at 40, captain Mohammed Rizwan went on to smash
the highest score of the season, 82 off 59 balls, before Ifthikar attacked
Zaman’s pace in the 19th over, hitting two sixes and three fours to lead the
home team to 170 for 5.
With a strong knock of undefeated 34 off 11 balls, Iftikhar destroyed
Qalandars’ hopes of winning for the first time. The home team required 21 off
the final two overs.
In place of the injured Rashid Khan, South African
left-arm spinner George Linde (1 for 26) appeared to have strengthened
Qalandars’ bowling when he bowled brilliantly in the middle overs after
Qalandars posted 166 for 5, but Iftikhar’s attack against Zaman secured the
victory.
Earlier, they put up 94 runs for the second wicket stand and pushed for a
formidable total before Sultans withdrew despite dropping four catches. Rassie
van der Dussen (54) struck his second half-century in three games, while Fakhar
Zaman made 41.
Khushdil Shah, who dropped two catches in the last
game against Islamabad United, floored two more chances on Wednesday, but fast
bowler Mohammad Ali (2 for 28) continued to impress with his swing and
variations which restricted Qalandars in the end.