Dubai: Multan Sultans outplayed Islamabad United in the 16th match of the Pakistan Super League at the Dubai International Stadium to record their second win in six matches.
After restricting Islamabad to a paltry 121 runs in 17.4 overs through a fine spell of 3 for 19 led from Daniel Christian and two wickets spells from Mohammad Illyas, Nauman Ali and Shahid Afridi, Multan registered an emphatic six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.
Chasing the total, Multan openers Umar Siddiq (46) and James Vince (28) put their team on the path to an easy victory through a 54 runs partnership. Skipper Shoaib Malek (23n.o) and Christian (16n.o) carried the team to the target by adding 21 runs in two overs. It was Islamabad’s third defeat in six matches.
Multan won the toss and elected to field. Islamabad opener Cameron Delport fell to the last ball of the first over from Mohammad Ilyas for 4 when hit to James Vince at mid-wicket. Opener Luke Ronchi hit Mohammad Irfan for two boundaries in the second over and also hit Illyas for a six over backward square boundary in the third over.
Ronchi also punished left-arm spinner Nauman Ali for two boundaries but Nauman had Sahibzada Farhan caught behind by Umar Siddiq for 4. Worse was to follow for Islamabad as Ronchi, who was beginning to stroke smoothly, fell to Illyas for 32 by getting caught by Malek at long-on.
Islamabad were 43 for three in the first five overs. Shahid Afridi struck in the 10th over by clean bowling Hussain Talat, who tried to hit to the leg and missed the delivery for 8.
Wayne Parnell joined Samit Patel and the pair took the score to 75 when Afridi had Patel on 20 hit to long on. Though Daniel Christain took the catch at the boundary he scooped the ball to Vince who was near him to complete the catch.
When Parnell too fell in the 13th over, caught and bowled by Irfan, Islamabad’s hopes of a big total began to fade. Skipper Shadab Khan and Asif Ali added 20 runs in two overs when Nauman clean bowled Shadab for 4.
Islamabad were struggling at 98 for 7 in 15 overs. In the 16th over Christian had Asif Ali caught behind for 22 and then trapped Rumman Raees leg before in the same over for a duck. The last pair of Faheem Ashraf (16n.o) and Mohammad Musan added 17 runs before Christian picked his third wicket by having Musa pull to Afridi at mid-wicket for 2.
Chasing the total, Multan opener Umar Siddiq escaped being caught at slip on his score of 5 when Ali at first slip dropped him after being distracted by wicketkeeper Ronchi, who also attempted for the catch.
Opener Vince kept finding the gaps and the pair put on 54 runs in 6.4 overs when Vince top edged Patel to Parnell at short third man for 28. Next man Johnson Charles lasted only three ball to score four runs before being trapped leg before by Shadab.
Malek joined Siddiq and at the half way mark, .Multan needed another 57 runs. Whe Siddiq was four short of his half century, he hit Raees high to Musa.
He added 40 runs in eight overs for the third wicket. Musa then clean bowled Laurie Evans with an yorker for one before Christian and Malek steered the team to the target.
Brief scores
Multan Sultans bt Islamabad United by six wickets. Islamabad United 121 in 17.4 overs (Luke Ronchi 32, Samit Patel 20, Asif Ali 22, Mohammad Ilyas 2 for 21, Nauman Ali 2 for 14, Shahid Afridi 2 for 37, Daniel Christian 3 for 19) Multan Sultans 122 for 4 in 18.1 overs (James Vince 28, Umar Siddiq 46, Shoaib Malek 23n.o)
Man of the match: Daniel Christian.
