Rizwan, Sohaib excel as Multan beat Lahore by seven wickets for first win
Rizwan hit 76 off 49 balls and Maqsood scored an unbeaten 61 off 41 as Multan eased to 159-3 in 16.2 overs in reply to Lahore’s 157-6
Half centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood guided Multan Sultans to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars’ at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
This is Sultans’ first win of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6. Sultans surmounted the 158-run target with 22 balls spare as Rizwan, who posted his second half-century and became the leading run-geter of the season, scored a breezy 49-ball 76, studded by 12 fours, and Sohaib hammered seven fours and fours in his 61 not out off 41.
“Our lack of good performances in the death bowling was improved and that’s why we restricted them,” Rizwan said. “Previously we were losing despite dominating most of the match.”
Multan have two points from one win and two losses while Lahore are on four points with two victories from three games. The pair stitched a match-winning 110-run partnership for the third wicket. Shaheen Afridi struck in the first over as he clean bowled Chris Lynn with a scorching yorker in the first over. James Vince (5 off 6) was next to go, with scoreboard reading at 30 for two.
But the two wickets did not inflict the harm which Qalandars desired as captain Rizwan’s subliminal form stretched into this match and he stroked them out of trouble. The wicketkeeper-batsman, who got recently promoted to Category A in the PCB’S Central Contract List for 2020-21, accumulated 44 off 22 in the powerplay overs to take Sultans’ score to 58 at the conclusion of the sixth over.
Both Rizwan and Sohaib played shots all around the ground, and were treat to watch for the fans, who showed up in numbers ater 50 per cent of fans were allowed for the first time in HBL PSL 6. Forqalandars,shaheenpickedtwowicketsfor29. Earlier, ater being put into bat by Sultans, Qalandars managed to score 157 for six thanks to Mohammad Hafeez’s second consecutive halfcentury. The right-handed Hafeez came to the crease when Qalandars lost opening pair Fakhar Zaman (9 off 11) and Sohail Akhtar (7 off 12) for 17 and scored 60 off 35.
The two early dismissals combined with top-class bowling allowed Qalandars only 25 runs in the first six overs – their lowest score in the powerplay.
Joe Denly and Hafeez put up an 89-run stand for the third wicket, in which Denly contributed a 29-ball 31, smashing two fours and as many sixes.
Hafeez, brought up his eighth half century of the HBL PSL in 27 balls, stroking right-arm fast Shahnawaz Dhani for a six over long-off. His innings included three fours and five towering sixes.
Samit Patel’s unbeaten 26 off 20 helped Qalandars go past 150-mark. For Multan Sultans,
Carlos Brathwaite and Shahnawaz picked two wickets apiece for 20 and 39 runs, respectively. The is Qalandars first defeat of the season.
Meanwhile, swashbuckling batsman Ben Dunk approved security arrangements for teams in Pakistan, raising hopes Australia’s next year’s tour to the country. Australia are scheduled to tour Pakistan for two Tests, three ODIS and as many T20IS in what will be their first tour to Pakistan since 1998.
Asked would he give a thumbs up if Cricket Australia takes his opinion on safety and security in Pakistan, Dunk was positive, “I think 100 per cent. In my four times to Pakistan, I have never felt unsafe.
“The security around the hotel, to and fro the games is simply amazing. I think it would be awesome for the people of Pakistan to have the Australian team touring here.”
England and New Zealand are also due to visit Pakistan later this year. Dunk is part of Lahore Qalandars for the second time ater featuring for Karachikingsin2019.the 33-year-old Queenslander, who played five T20IS for Australia between 201417, hoped Covid-19 situation improves by the time Australia travel to Pakistan in February next year.
“We saw South Africa come just before the HBL PSL 6. Hopefully, by that stage the Covid-19 situation around the world and here in Pakistan would allow a significant crowd. It would be an amazing experience for the Australian boys to play in front of the Pakistani home crowd. I have been really fortunate to have played in front of some amazing crowds and my memories will last for a long time. The same will be for the Australian players to play Test cricket here.”
Dunk said he has always enjoyed his visits to Pakistan.