Usman Khan’s unbeaten and scintillating 59-ball 106 and Usama Mir’s (2-29) bowling brilliance powered Multan Sultans to 20-run victory against Karachi Kings in the 19th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi on Sunday.
KARACHI KINGS' INNINGS
Chasing a target of 190, the Kings could only score 169-7 in 20 overs, with Shoaib Malik (38 off 28) being the top scorer for his team, slamming five boundaries.
Captain Shan Masood got the start early on before he was perplexed on 29-ball 36 by Usama Mir, studding with five boundaries.
Mohammad Nawaz (27 off 17) remained unbeaten, smashing three boundaries and one six. Irfan Khan looked good for his 19-ball 23, whacking two boundaries and one towering six.
Hasan Ali clobbered one boundary and a six to compile an 8-ball 17.
Tim Seifert (1 off 4) and James Vince (7 off 4).
Leus du Plooy (12 out of 11) could not show significant resistance with the bat.
Mir Hamza remained unbeaten on 1–4.
For the Sultans, Usama Mir (2-29) remained a standout bowler as he scooped up two wickets.
Khushdil Shah (1-16), David Willey (1-32), Chris Jordan (1-34), and Mohammad Ali (1-40) took a scalp each.
Faisal Akram (0-16) remained wicketless.
MULTAN SULTANS' INNINGS
Usman Khan's unbeaten and belligerent ton powered the Multan Sultans to 189-3 against the Karachi Kings.
Opting to bat first, the Sultans lost Reeza Hendricks earlier on 8-ball 13, when Zimbabwean Blessing Muzarabani removed the former.
But momentum was back with the Sultans, when captain Mohammad Rizwan stitched a belligerent 93-ball 148 along with Usman Khan.
The partnership was broken by Muzarabani, who got rid of Rizwan on 44-ball 58. Rizwan had clobbered five boundaries during his brilliant knock.
This is the third highest partnership for the Sultans against any opposition in the PSL.
Iftikhar Ahmed joined Usman, who could merely score a run-a-ball four before being perplexed by Hasan Ali.
It was in the final over that United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricketer Usman Khan clobbered Mir Hamza for a six to register his second PSL century. He whacked 10 boundaries and five sixes to produce a blinder.
None of the Kings’ bowlers were up to par. Only Blessing Muzarabani (2-32) and Haasan Ali (1-34) filled the wickets’ column.
Blessing Muzarabani (2-32) scooped up two wickets.
Hasan Ali (1-34) took a scalp.
Zahid Mahmood (0–34), Shoaib Malik (0–8), Mir Hamza (0–43), and Mohammad Nawaz (0–37) remained wicketless.
TOSS
Multan Sultans have opted to bat first against Karachi Kings in the 19th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi on Sunday.
TEAMS
Multan Sultans: Reeza Hendricks, Muhammad Rizwan (c & wk), Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Faisal Akram, Muhammad Ali
Karachi Kings: Shan Masood (c), Tim Seifert (wk), James Vince, Shoaib Malik, Leus Du Plooy, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mohammad Nawaz, Hassan Ali, Zahid Mehmood, Mir Hamza, and Blessing Muzarabani
