Karachi (PCB Report):
Steve Smith hit a composed half-century as Multan Sultans romped to their sixth win chasing the 167-run target set by Rawalpindiz in the 31st match of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Tuesday’s double-header day.
On Wednesday, Karachi Kings will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the first match at the Gaddafi Stadium, while Multan Sultans will return to face Hyderabad Kingsmen at the National Bank Stadium. Sultans are placed second on the points table with 12 points, while Rawalpindiz have copped their eighth straight loss.
Opting to bat first, the Rawalpindiz were struck two early blows by Multan Sultans’ new ball duo of Muhammad Imran and Peter Siddle. Shahzaib Khan fell for a four-ball duck to Imran, while Siddle got rid of Yasir Khan to reduce Rawalpindiz to 6-2 in two overs.
It was at this juncture that Daryl Mitchell and Mohammad Rizwan came together to stitch a 63-run stand off 50 balls. The duo was quiet till the fifth over with Rawalpindiz 19-2 before they hit Arafat Minhas for a six and a four to take 14 off the sixth.
Arafat returned to break the partnership in the 11th over after Rawalpindiz were 67-2 at the halfway mark. That the Rawalpindiz were able to score 99 off the last 10 overs was largely due to Dian Forrester’s unbeaten 37 off 15 balls and Mitchell’s unbeaten 58 as they stitched 45 off 20 balls for the fifth wicket.
Sam Billings (29, 20b, 2x4s, 1x6) walked in at 69-3 in the 11th over and helped keep the innings on track putting on a 52-run stand with Mitchell. Mohammad Wasim Jnr came on to remove Billings in the 17th over. Forrester hit three fours and three sixes in his aggressive outing. His boundaries came in the last three overs in a set of six and four each.
Mitchell, who hit his 28th T20 half-century and fourth in HBL PSL, struck three fours and two sixes as Rawalpindiz finished with 166-4 in 20 overs.
In turn, Sultans reached the target with eight balls to spare and six wickets in the bag. Smith hit 56 off 31 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes, in which he looked at his best. It was his second HBL PSL half-century and 31st in T20s.
After Sahibzada (20, 17b, 4x4s) was castled by Asif Afridi for the first of his two wickets in the fourth over, Smith and Philippe (17, 19b, 1x4) shared a 69-run stand, which was largely dominated by the former. Shan Masood contributed 20 off 22 balls hitting just one four after Philippe and Smith fell to Asif and Saad Masood, respectively in consecutive overs with Sultans 100-3 in 11.3 overs.
Skipper Ashton Turner remained unbeaten for 37 off 21 balls and made sure to finish the game hitting three fours and one six in his outing, while Arafat was seven not out off three balls with the help of one four. Asif’s two wickets came for 28 runs in four overs, while Razaullah and Saad dismissed one batter each.
Scores in brief:
Rawalpindiz 166-4, 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 58 not out, Dian Forrester 37 not out, Sam Billings 29, Mohammad Rizwan 26; Mohammad Imran 1-9)
Multan Sultans 167-4, 18.4 overs (Steven Smith 56, Ashton Turner 37 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 20, Shan Masood 20; Asif Afridi 2-28)
Player of the Match – Steven Smith (Multan Sultans
Wednesday’s fixtures:
Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 2.30pm PKT
Hyderabad Kingsmen v Multan Sultans at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7pm PKT
