Multan Sultans reach PSL 9 final with win over Peshawar Zalmi

KARACHI: In the first match of the Qualifier round of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) ninth season, Multan Sultans defeated Peshawar Zalmi by seven wickets to reach the PSL-9 final.

Having won the toss, Peshawar Zalmi chose to bat first. The team set a target of 147 runs, losing seven wickets in the process.

Captain Babar Azam demonstrated his consistency with the bat, scoring 46 runs off 42 deliveries, falling just short of a half-century.

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His teammates, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Mohammad Haris, contributed 24 and 22 runs respectively.

Multan Sultans’ bowlers exerted pressure on the Zalmi batsmen, with Usama Mir claiming two wickets. He conceded only 16 runs in his allotted four overs.

Chris Jordan also grabbed two wickets, while conceding 28 runs. Mohammad Ali took a single wicket while giving away 13 runs in his two overs.

In response, Multan Sultans chased down the target, reaching 147 runs with the loss of three wickets in 18.3 overs.

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Yasir Khan shone with the bat. He scored 54 runs from 37 balls, featuring a six and seven fours. Usman Khan scored a notable 36 runs off 26 balls, while Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten with 22 runs.

Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers struggled to contain the Sultans’ batsmen, with Mehran Mumtaz, Aamir Jamal, and Salman Irshad each managing to take a single wicket but surrendering significant runs. Aamir Jamal conceded 23 runs in his three overs, while Mehran Mumtaz and Irshad gave away 28 runs each in their respective overs.

Usama Mir’s bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

This victory marks Multan Sultans’ fourth consecutive entry into the PSL final.

In the second match of the play-offs, Islamabad United will face off against Quetta Gladiators on Friday (today) at 9 pm.