Multan Sultans crush Lahore Qalandars by 60 runs

LAHORE: In a thrilling encounter at the Pakistan Super League, the Multan Sultans displayed a dominant performance to secure a commanding victory over the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, by a staggering 60-run margin.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Multan Sultans’ captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision proved fruitful as his team amassed a formidable total of 214 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Usman Khan stole the show with a scintillating innings, hammering 96 runs off just 55 deliveries, while Iftikhar Ahmed provided valuable support with an unbeaten knock of 40 runs from 18 balls. Despite the early dismissals of Rizwan and Riza Hendricks, contributions from Tayyab Tahir (21 runs) and Khushdil Shah (not out on 3 runs) bolstered Multan’s total.

In response, Lahore Qalandars faced a daunting target of 215 runs but faltered under pressure as they were bowled out for 154 runs in 17 overs. Usama Mir emerged as the hero for Multan Sultans with an exceptional bowling performance, claiming 6 wickets for 40 runs to dismantle Lahore’s batting lineup.

Despite the efforts of Shaheen Shah Afridi (2 wickets), Carlos Brathwaite, and Sikandar Raza (1 wicket each), Lahore Qalandars failed to counter Multan’s dominance and suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in PSL 9, leaving them winless in the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, Multan Sultans’ convincing victory propelled them to the top of the points table, with 4 wins from 5 matches and a total of 8 points, reaffirming their status as one of the strongest contenders in the tournament.