Multan Sultans thrash Lahore Qalandars by 43 runs

DUBAI: Debutants Multan Sultans secured their second consecutive win in the PSL-3 by defeating the Lahore Qalandars by 43 runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

The Multan Sultans set 180-run target for the Lahore Qalandars thanks to blistering innings by Kumar Sangakkara (63) and skipper Shoaib Malik who scored 48 off 28 balls. Chasing a daunting 180, Lahore began shakily, despite a cameo from Sunil Narine. Brendon McCullum, batting at No. 3, holed out to third man without scoring, off his fifth delivery.

Fakhar Zaman kept them in the hunt with a terrific innings, smashing 49 runs off 30 balls, but a spectacular catch by Ahmed Shehzad turned the game.

That triggered a monumental collapse, with Junaid Khantaking a hat-trick as Lahore lost their last seven wickets for just four runs to fold meekly for 136. Multan, who had been put in to bat, got off to a flying start, in part due to Lahore's sloppy start: six wides and four byes were conceded in the first five overs. Kumar Sangakkara was in the same sparkling form that carried his side to victory on Thursday, mixing classical Test shots with modern T20 hitting. Lahore were never quite able to drag Multan back, with Shehzad and Shoaib Malik also making valuable contributions as they racked up the highest score of the tournament so far. At one stage, it looked like they would need all of those runs, but a late Lahore implosion meant they simply boosted their net run-rate.

A good start by Multan's opening bowlers, Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Irfan, meant Lahore weren't able to get off to the fast start they so desperately needed. There was huge pressure on McCullum, who looked scratchy. When he carved one to third man, Lahore were 40 for 2 in the sixth over, with the asking rate already nearing 10 an over. For a top-heavy Lahore side, that was always going to be a tough task. Multan move to the top of the table with two wins from two games, while Lahore Qalandars sit at the bottom on net run-rate after a heavy loss.

Two matches will be played today (Saturday). The first match will be played between the Islamabad United and defending champions Peshawar Zalmi, while the second match will be played between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars.