Pollard plays supporting role in record run chase
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, CMC – Kieron Pollard became the latest West Indies batsman involved in a record run chase and helped Multan Sultans to a fourwicket win against Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League yesterday, to earn a spot in the playoffs.
The former West Indies white-ball captain smashed three fours and five sixes in a typically explosive 52 from 25 balls, but he was overshadowed by an enterprising 121 from South African Rilee Roussouw that enabled Multan Sultans to achieved the second highest official Twenty20 run chase of 244 for six.
Roussouw blasted 12 fours and eight sixes from 51 balls to break his record for the fastest PSL century and shared 99 with Pollard for the third wicket to put the Sultans on course for their fifth win in nine matches in the six-team tournament to move into third place on 10 points.
Pollard was caught at deep backward square leg off former Pakistan left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz in the 10th over with 116 needed from 62 balls.
But Roussouw put them within sight of victory with his sensational batting before he was caught at long-on off Afghanistan pacer Azmatullah Omarzai with 17 needed from nine balls.
Earlier, Pakistan all-formats captain Babar Azam hit the top score of 73 and fellow opener Saim Ayub made 58, sharing a second successive century stand to anchor Zalmi to 242 for six.
New West Indies Twenty20 captain Rovman Powell got only two from four balls, and he was one of four for 39 in four
overs for Pakistani pacer Abbas Afridi.
West Indies left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell failed to take a wicket in three overs that cost 37, and Pollard made two brilliant catches on the boundary.
English batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore took 24 off the last over and Pakistani pacer Anwar Ali ended with the second most expensive figures in the PSL of one for 66 in four overs.
Multan joined Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United in the playoffs, while Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators still have a chance to qualify.