Sultans outclass Zalmi to seal final berth

KARACHI: Multan Sultans strolled into the final of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 after an excellent show by the bowlers and a brilliant fifty from opener Yasir Khan before Iftikhar Ahmed’s late fireworks handed Peshawar Zalmi a seven-wicket defeat in the one-sided Qualifier at the National Bank Stadium here on late Thursday night.

Talented opener Yasir smashed seven fours and a six during the 37-ball 54 before three fours and a six from Iftikhar ended the game in 18.3 overs after their bowlers restricted the Zalmis to 146, with only Babar Azam (46) being the notable scorer.

The 2021 PSL winners Multan have secured a spot in the final for the fourth time in a row, while Peshawar will have another chance as they meet the winner of Eliminator 1 in Eliminator 2 on March 16.

Multan got off to a fine start, as Yasir smacked the spinner Mehran Mumtaz for six on the second ball, while Rizwan managed a four in the next over.

However, it was Yasir’s night as he displayed his talent just at the perfect time, as he struck three cracking boundaries in the fourth over. Saim again kept bowling at accurate channels, conceding just five runs in two overs during the powerplay. But there was no stopping Yasir, as he kept finding a boundary every over, while Rizwan looked out of sorts during the 21-ball 15 runs before being dismissed by Aamer Jamal in the eighth over.

At the halfway stage, Multan had scored 80 runs, with Yasir’s blazing fifty keeping the required rate in check. Only Saim was economical, leaking just ten runs in three overs.

Yasir was shown the door in the 11th over on the bowling of Mehran, who took a fine catch off his bowling.

After Yasir’s removal in the 11th over, Usman Khan (36) consolidated the innings well, hitting three fours during a 28-ball knock, as Peshawar badly missed the Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq.

Multan needed 38 of the last five overs. Three fours in the 17th over from Iftikhar and a six in the 18th over helped take Multan over the line. For the 2017 winners Zalmi, Saim Ayub was the most economical as he conceded just 17 runs in four overs, while Aamar, Salman Irshad and Mehran picked a wicket each.

Peshawar, electing to bat first, managed only 146, with only Babar Azam (46) being the notable scorer as all the Multan bowlers contributed economic and wicket-taking spells for their team.

After Saim’s early removal, Babar and Mohammad Haris tried to steady Zalmi’s inning, with a 46-run stand for the second wicket. Haris, who looked good with 22 off 14 balls with four fours, threw away his wicket by feathering a nick to Rizwan off pacer Ali.

After the power play in which Zalmi scored 51, losing two wickets, Multan skipper Rizwan brought spinners, who did their part, conceding singles. Usama removed Haseebullah Khan for three, as Zalmi only managed 67 runs at the halfway stage.

Babar continued to play the anchor role, as wickets kept falling around him. He could not show the aggressive and risk-taking intent, managing just five fours during the 42-ball knock before being outdone by a cracking yorker from Jordan in the 13th over.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who scored a run-a-ball 24, followed Babar after nine balls, dismissed by Usama after Willey took a catch at long-off. Rovman Powell smashed Willey for two fours in the 17th over before Jordan removed him the next over for 12.

Wood’s six and a four in the second last over pushed the score, as Jordan delivered an outstanding last over, conceding just three, firing almost all the balls right in the block hole. For Multan, left-arm David Willey again proved decisive upfront, removing the dangerous Saim Ayub for one in the first over. He ended up with figures of 1-31 in the four-over spell.

Apart from Willey, the in-form leggie Usama Mir did an exceptional job as he effectively used the spin-friendly wicket, taking two wickets for just 16 in four overs. Chris Jordan, who removed Babar, took two for 28 in four overs, while Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi also picked one.