PSL 9: Peshawar Zalmi beat Multan Sultans in nail-biting match

Peshawar Zalmi Friday inflicted a 5-run defeat on Multan Sultans in the nail-biting 9th fixture at the Multan Cricket Stadium during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine.

The intense match was finished in the last over when Sultans' power-hitter Iftikhar Ahmed failed to take his side over the line while facing Zalmi's Naveen-ul-Haq.

Chasing the target of 180 runs, the Sultans were met with an early blow when their skipper Mohammad Rizwan lost his wicket for a duck in the second over to Luke Wood.

Following Rizwan’s dismissal, Yasir Khan continued the charge against Zalmi’s bowlers but the right-handed batter failed to accelerate the innings and ended up losing his wicket after contributing 43 runs.

Dawid Malan, who had been playing as an opener, came at no. 4 and immediately changed the game for his side with his attacking prowess.

The left-handed batter scored 52 off just 25 balls with six boundaries. Following Malan’s wicket, the Sultans couldn’t hold on to their wickets.

It looked like the match would take a dramatic turn when Usama Mir came to bat and scored two sixes on two balls. However, he ended up losing his wicket on the third ball while attempting another six.

The Sultans had their hopes till the last over as Iftikhar Ahmed was on the crease but Naveen managed to trap the right-handed batter when the Blues only required six runs on two balls. After Iftikhar, Dahani came to bat but was bowled on the last ball of the match and Zalmi finally won a match in PSL 9.

Batting first, Zalmi didn’t get off to a bright start as star opener Saim Ayub departed for the pavilion after scoring just 7 runs as he fell prey to Shahnawaz Dahani in the fourth over.

However, after losing the first wicket, another youngster Haseebullah Khan came to bat and gave Zalmi the much-needed spark as he began his innings by taking Sultans’ Iftikhar Ahmed to the cleaners.

The left-handed batter scored 37 off just 18 deliveries, but he failed to defend himself against Usama Mir, who had also removed Babar Azam in his previous over.

Following Haseebullah’s dismissal, Paul Walter played a quick knock scoring 16 off 8 balls but he too had to walk back to the pavilion after losing his wicket to David Willey.

While Mohammad Haris failed to accelerate the innings, Rovman Powell played an important inning, scoring 21 on 11 balls with four boundaries before losing his wicket to Willey.

The wickets kept falling and Zalmi ended their innings scoring 179-8 in the allocated overs.

Willey, Mohammad Ali and Usama Mir picked two wickets each while Dahani and Abbas Afridi managed to get one apiece.