Sultans register morale-boosting win in HBL PSL

DUBAI: Daniel Christian helped revive Multan Sultans’ dwindling fortunes by taking 3-19 as they thrashed Islamabad United by six wickets in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) match at Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday night.

Christian, left-arm spinner Nauman (2-14), rookie paceman Mohammad Ilyas (2-21) and veteran leg-spinner Shahid Afridi (2-37) rattled the defending champions and bowled them out for just 121 in 17.4 overs after inviting them to bat.

Multan then rode on a mature innings of 46 by opener Umer Siddiq off 45 balls with five boundaries and a six to overhaul the target in 18.1 overs for only their second win in six games.Multan had lost four games and were in the relegation zone. They are now fourth with four points is six matches.

Siddiq put on 54 with James Vince who made 17-ball 28 with five boundaries. West Indian Johnson Charles (4) was trapped by Shadab Khan, who captained the side in the absence of an injured Mohammad Sami.

But skipper Shoaib Malik, who made a patient 32-ball 23 not out, gave good company to young Siddiq as they took the score to 99 when Siddiq fell. Malik kept his nerves to get Multan over the line.

Christian said getting wicket upfront helped. “It was an all-round performance from all of us,” said Christian. “Getting wickets upfront helped and getting Ronchi was good.”Meanwhile, Malik said that they expected good bowling from their bowlers.

“So that was the plus point and helped us restrict them (for a modest total),” said Malik.Shadab said Islamabad lost too many wickets in the power-play.“If you lose three to four wickets in the power-play then its tough to stage a comeback,” the Islamabad skipper said.

Islamabad never got going, losing Cameroon Delport in Ilyas’ first over. Luke Ronchi hit a 16-ball 32 with six boundaries and a six before becoming rookie paceman Ilyas’s second wicket.

Samit Patel with 20 and Asif Ali (12-ball 22 with three sixes) started well but both threw away their wickets due to poor shot selection.Afridi dismissed Patel and Hussain Talat for eight. Christian removed Asif, Rumman Raees (0) and Mohammad Musa (2) to bowl out Islamabad.

Multan Sultans won toss

Islamabad United won toss

†L Ronchi c Malik b Ilyas 32

C S Delport c Vince b Ilyas 4

Sahibzada Farhan st Umar b Nauman 4

S R Patel c Vince b Afridi 20

Hussain Talat b Afridi 8

W D Parnell c & b Irfan 5

Asif Ali c Umar b Christian 22

*Shadab Khan b Nauman 4

Faheem Ashraf not out 16

Rumman Raees lbw b Christian 0

Muhammad Musa c Afridi b Christian 2

Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4

Total (all out, 17.4 overs) 121

Fall: 1-5, 2-34, 3-42, 4-62, 5-75, 6-76, 7-96, 8-104, 9-104, 10-121

Bowling: Ilyas 3-0-21-2; Irfan 4-0-17-1; Nauman 2-0-14-2; Junaid 3-0-11-0; Afridi 4-0-37-2; Christian 1.4-0-19-3

Multan Sultans

†Umar Siddiq c Musa b Rumman 46

J M Vince c Parnell b Patel 28

J Charles lbw b Shadab 4

*Shoaib Malik not out 23

L J Evans b Musa 1

D T Christian not out 16

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 2) 4

Total (4 wickets, 18.1 overs) 122

Did not bat: Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Nauman Ali

Fall: 1-54, 2-59, 3-99, 4-101

Bowling: Faheem 3.1-0-19-0; Musa 4-0-43-1; Rumman 3-0-19-1; Patel 4-0-24-1; Shadab 4-0-16-1

Result: Multan Sultans won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Daniel Christian (MS)

Umpires: Richard Illingworth (England) and Ahsan Raza (Pakistan). TV Umpire: Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan)