Multan Sultans extended their impressive streak in PSL 2024 by defeating Karachi Kings by 20 runs at the National Stadium on Sunday (March 3). This victory marked their sixth win in seven matches, securing their spot in the playoffs.
Usman Khan’s unbeaten 106 off 59 balls and Mohammad Rizwan‘s 58 off 44 were pivotal in Multan Sultans’ strong total of 189/3. Karachi Kings struggled throughout their innings, losing wickets regularly to Multan’s collective bowling effort. Despite their efforts, Karachi could only manage 169/7, resulting in their fourth loss in six matches.
Dominant Display by Multan Sultans
Choosing to bat first, Multan Sultans faced an early setback with Reeza Hendricks’s dismissal in the second over. However, Usman Khan’s aggressive batting ensured a productive powerplay, propelling Sultans to 50/1 after 6 overs. While Mohammad Rizwan played a more cautious innings, Usman continued to score boundaries regularly, driving the partnership past 50 and guiding Sultans to 87/1 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Usman Khan’s Spectacular Century
Usman Khan reached his fifty off just 32 balls, showcasing his aggressive intent, while Mohammad Rizwan took 40 deliveries to reach his half-century. The second-wicket partnership between them approached the 150-run mark before Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Rizwan. Shortly after, Iftikhar Ahmed also fell, but Usman remained at the crease until the end. He sealed his second PSL century with a six off Mir Hamza, displaying remarkable hitting with 10 fours and 5 sixes, contributing significantly to Multan Sultans’ formidable total.
Karachi Kings’ Struggles in the Chase
Karachi Kings faced early setbacks in their chase, losing Tim Seifert and James Vince in the first four overs. Shan Masood and Shoaib Malik then steadied the innings with a steady partnership, attempting to revive the chase. Despite managing 53 runs in the powerplay, Karachi faced a setback when the well-set Masood departed a few overs later, leaving the team at 79/3 at the halfway mark, with a substantial amount of work still to be done.
Kieron Pollard’s Absence
Despite the experienced duo of Shoaib Malik and Leus du Plooy attempting to stabilize the innings, Karachi Kings continued to struggle as both fell in quick succession, leading to a precarious position of 99/5 after 13 overs. The Kings were dented by the absence of star allrounder Kieron Pollard who skipped this game to attend the pre-wedding bash of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar.
Multan Sultans’ Bowling Collective
Although Irfan Khan managed to hit a few big shots, the task remained daunting for Karachi, requiring 71 runs off the final 30 balls. Irfan’s dismissal in the 17th over further compounded their woes. Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali managed to find the fence a few times, but their efforts only narrowed the margin of defeat as Multan Sultans clinched yet another victory, solidifying their position at the top of the points table.
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