Babar Azam and his men got the better of table toppers – Multan Sultans – in a closely fought encounter on 5th March, 2024. Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first on a Rawalpindi track that is known for its high-scoring games.
It was a fairly one-sided encounter for most part of the game with the Multan Sultans failing to keep at par with the asking rate at any stage of the second innings, but it was Iftikhar Ahmed who injected life into the game with a scintillating knock down the order. At the end, it was Babar Azam’s side that emerged victorious, after the Multan Sultans fell 5 short of their target of 205.
On that note, let us look at 3 reasons why Peshawar Zalmi managed to beat the invincible Multan Sultans:
(1)Babar Azam and Saim Ayub’s continued dominate
The ever so consistent, Babar Azam, along with his opening partner, Saim Ayub, once again got Peshawar Zalmi off to a flier. The duo has been incredibly crucial to their side’s success. Facing the table toppers, they needed to step up, and so they did.
Saim Ayub made his plans clear when he smacked the third ball of the innings for a six over fine-leg. He went on to hit a six in each of the first three overs. Babar Azam, who simply keeps winning games for his side, also got going with a flurry of boundaries.
The pair added 71 runs together in the powerplay, the highest powerplay total of the season so far.
Saim Ayub played an absolute blinder, scoring 46 runs at a strike rate of close to 210. He found the fence at will, and he toyed with the bowlers, mixing up all that unorthodoxy in his batting with some beautifully placed cricketing shots.
Babar Azam, who is a gift to the sport that simply keeps giving, bagged yet another half century, looking fairly untroubled in the process. Anything down the leg or too full outside off was dispatched with disdain.
A man who is often criticized for his strike rates scored 64 off just 40 deliveries, striking at 160 in the process. What is so commendable about Babar Azam is the ease with which he racks up runs, and now, with the way he has shown significant improvements in terms of his intent, he has become so much more dangerous.
The pair capitalized on the field restrictions in the first six overs, and that turned out to be the difference in the end.
(2)An impressive spell from Mehran Mumtaz on debut
Playing his first ever game for Babar Azam’s side, the very young Mehran Mumtaz impressed many as he delivered a brilliant spell on debut.
The 20-year old was splendid with the way he mixed it up while bowling, and it was proof of his ability to bowl to the situation. Being a thinking bowler is a necessity in the modern game, and Mehran Mumtaz showed promise in that aspect of the game already.
He kept darting a couple of deliveries in after tossing it up, and vice versa. He made sure not to become predictable with the ball in hand. His changes in pace were remarkable as well. Moreover, he was getting deliveries to turn at close to a 100 KPH, which is never easy for finger spinners.
The youngster got the important wicket of Reeza Hendricks, who has breached the 50-run mark thrice already this season, and went for just 20 runs at 5 runs per over in a game where the second best economy rate for any bowler was 8.
(3)Exemplary fielding effort from Babar Azam’s men
Mohammad Rizwan has been amongst the most consistent batters in the format over the last couple of years. He is usually a very busy batter who can keep the scoreboard ticking with his singles and then deliver those meaty blows when needed.
The Multan Sultans skipper could have made things really difficult for Peshawar Zalmi if he stayed out there for a bit longer. But, it was some excellence from Aamer Jamal that ended Mohammad Rizwan’s stay at the crease.
Aamer Jamal, who in his very short career has already built up that reputation of being a fighter and a game-changer, turned the game around with a good effort in the field.
He collected the ball off his own bowling and ran out Mohammad Rizwan, who in an attempt to pick up a quick single fell short of his crease.
Soon after that, it was Asif Ali who took an absolute blinder close to the ropes to dismiss Dawid Malan. The former number 1 ranked T20I batter hit an Aamer Jamal delivery really hard and flat, and it looked like it would go for six. But, it was not meant to be, with Asif Ali plucking the ball out of thin air.