Multan Sultans triumphed over Peshawar Zalmi in the final to win their maiden Pakistan Super League (PSL) in a see-saw kind of game at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
At the start of the innings, Zalmi made a blistering start courtesy Kamran Akmal’s 36.
The Zalmi needed a herculean effort by one of their batsmen to chase the record-breaking target in the PSL final and Akmal gave hope to his team till the fifth over.
Zalmi were 36 for the loss of no wickets at that point and all those runs were scored by the veteran wicketkeeper.
Hazraullah Zazai, the other opener, was looking to join the party when he hit Blessing Muzarabani for a six from the first ball of the sixth over. However, the very next ball Zazai was removed by the Zimbabwean to give Multan their first wicket.
Imran Khan then bowled a wicket-taking maiden sixth over to put Zalmi further under pressure. The bowler in the over removed the dangerous Akmal from the very first delivery.
Then Rilee Rossouw, who had started with the bat for Multan, removed Jonathan Wells with a run out during the 10th over to tilt the final in Multan’s favour.
In the 11th over, Imran Khan removed Shoaib Malik but the decision was overturned after replays showed that the pacer had overstepped.
The mistake proved to be too costly for the Multan as Malik then made the Sultans pay for their mistake.
West Indian Rovman Powell was giving good company to Malik but he was removed by Muzarabani during the 15th over.
While Multan knew that Malik was key for them if they wanted to lay their hands on their first PSL trophy.
And it was the experienced Sohail Tanvir who removed the veteran all-rounder from the first ball of the 16th over. But Malik had taken his side far enough to make Zalmi dream at the point. They needed 70 runs from the last 29 balls at that point.
After Malik’s dismissal, Sherfane Rutherford decided to charge the Multan bowlers.
Once again, it was the experience that counted in the situation.
Imran Tahir, during the 17th over, removed the dangerous Rutherford, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Imran to end the little hope that Zalmi had of clinching their second PSL title.
In the next over Imran Khan, took Zalmi’s ninth wicket to take his side closer to the finish line.
Getting 56 runs in the last 16 balls proved too much for the last two batsmen of the Zalmi.
Multan triumphed over Zalmi by 48 runs to win their first PSL title.
