Khushdil fireworks help Sultans edge Kings in HBL PSL

KARACHI: Imran Khan Senior and Imran Tahir did well with the ball while Khushdil Shah and Rilee Roussouw had a fine day with the bat as Multan Sultans downed holders Karachi Kings by 12 runs in their first game of the Abu Dhabi leg of the HBL PSL 6 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

This was the second win for Multan in the event from six games.

Chasing 177, Kings needed 23 off the last over from Imran Khan Senior. But the Test discard right-armer did well as he conceded just ten runs and also removed Thisara Perera (0), Imad Wasim (0) and Qasim Akram (10) to finish with 3-28 in four overs.

It was Babar Azam (85*) who kept Kings hopes until the last over. Babar, who hit four sixes and five fours in his 18th PSL fifty, faced 63 balls. He added quik 77 runs for the fourth wicket with Chadwick Walton, who got run out off the final ball of the penultimate over after scoring 23-ball 35 with four fours and one six.

Imran Tahir got 2-27 in four overs.

After being invited to bat first, Multan Sultans rode on some fine efforts from Khushdil Shah (44*) and Rillee Rossouw (44) to post 176-5.

After losing Rehmanullah Gurbaz (3) in the first over, Sohaib Maqsood played a fantastic knock of 14-ball 31 to set the foundation for the innings.

Sohaib, who was dislodged by Waqas Maqsood, was seen in a dangerous mood as he hit Imad Wasim for three fours and one towering six in the third over which fetched 21 runs.

Rillee Roussouw was also on song and he played a few superb strokes, smashing seven fours in his 24-ball knock.

He added 68 runs off 39 balls for the third wicket with skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who got run out for a 23-ball 29. Both Rossouw and Rizwan fell in the same over. However, it was the sixth-wicket, 32-ball 48 runs unbroken stand between Khushdil and Sohail Tanvir, which took Multan to a very good total on a tricky track.

Khushdil hit Mohammad Amir (0-42 in 4) for two fours and a six and Sohail Tanvir hit him for a four in the same over.

Khushdil hammered two sixes and three fours in his 32-ball unbeaten innings.

Sohail made a-run-a-ball 14 not out, striking one four.

Multan were 107-2 in ten overs and 130-5 in 15. They got 46 in the last five overs.

Sri Lankan pacer Tisara Perera (2-12 in 3 overs) bowled really well, taking the wickets of Rossouw and Shimron Hetmyer (7). Imad Wasim (1-34) and Waqas Maqsood (1-33) were the other wicket takers.

Defending the total, Multan got an early breakthrough when they ran Sharjeel Khan (4) out after the left-hander had faced only six balls.

Babar added 43 runs for the second wicket with Martin Guptill, who fell to leggie Imran Tahir for a 16-ball 11. Imran Tahir put further pressure on Kings when he had the prized scalp of Afghanistan’s Najeebullah Zadran, who was trapped lbw after he had scored 11 off six balls.