The runners-up in the previous edition, the Multan Sultans, have begun PSL 9 on a high note after defeating the Karachi Kings at their home stadium, Multan Cricket Stadium, by a convincing margin of 55 runs. The team reached 185 in the first inning due to half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks and Dawid Malan. Karachi Kings, in response, could only muster 130-8 in the 20 overs that were given.
Pitch report and toss update
The flat and dry surface of the pitch at the Multan Cricket Stadium is well known for being a batting paradise, benefiting batters time and time again. The conditions on this ground are not conducive to seam bowlers’ style of play; hence, they frequently struggle.
However, as the game progresses, spinners should be expected to be actively involved, taking advantage of the shift in conditions. The Karachi Kings chose to field after winning the toss.
Malan and Hendricks took charge for the Multan Sultans after losing an early wicket
Multan Sultans were in serious trouble when they lost captain Muhammad Rizwan for a dismal 11-ball 12 that featured two boundaries to left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, who struck on the first ball of the third over.
In his PSL debut, Hendricks took the initiative right away as he tried to gain an advantage from the powerplay. The South African top-order batsman, having joined opening batsman Malan at the crease, contributed to a second-wicket partnership of 121 runs that steadied the innings.
Before being dismissed in the 17th over by PSL debutant Daniel Sams, Malan reached his fifty-score. The left-handed batter, who had scored 52 on 41 with four boundaries and a maximum, went back to the pavilion.
Khushdil and Hendricks gave finishing touches to the Multan Sultans
The next batter to bat, Khushdil Shah, enthralled the fans with an undefeated quickfire 13-ball 28 off of four boundaries. Khushdil and Hendricks shared an unbeaten 47-run partnership that lifted the Multan Sultans to 185 in 20 overs.
Hendricks was the Multan Sultans’ leading run scorer, with an unbeaten 79 off 54 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. The Karachi Kings had just two wicket-takers, Sams and Hamza, who took one wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers were expensive and not able to muster a single wicket.
Reeza Hendricks got another chance when Tabraiz Shamsi dropped him when he was on 28 runs, and eventually the Karachi Kings had to pay a hefty price for this dropped catch.
David Willey struck early with the bowl to give perfect start to the Multan Sultans
The Karachi Kings had a shaky start as they attempted to chase 186. On the second delivery of the third over, David Willey managed to get a thick outside edge of opening batsman James Vince, which was caught by Mohammad Ali at third man.
The next ball saw Pakistan U19 captain Saad Baig get a golden duck as Willey reduced the Karachi Kings to 10-2. The English bowler’s selection as the first pick in the PSL 9 player draft by the Multan Sultans was validated by the left-arm pacer’s devastating spell with the new ball.
The innings got a bit steady because of a 52-run partnership between Shan and experienced player Shoaib Malik for the third wicket. But it was cut short in the ninth over when Willey caught Shan off leg-spinner Usama Mir. The Karachi Kings were reeling at 67/3 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Shoaib Malik was the lone warrior for the Kings, as he didn’t get support from the other end
Malik was joined in the middle by Mohammad Nawaz. Before being dismissed by right-arm bowler Abbas Afridi in the 14th over, the two collaborated to add 37 to the total. Malik got dismissed after scoring 53 runs on 35 balls, his 83rd T20 fifty, through five fours and two sixes.
The Karachi Kings got in even more trouble in the same over when Nawaz was caught at extra cover by Hendricks for just seven runs. In the 15th over, right-arm bowler Mohammad Ali, who was making his debut for Multan Sultans, returned with two wickets and only one run, making things worse for Karachi Kings. In the next over, he cleaned up Hamza for a duck.
With 67 needed in the final two overs, Keiron Pollard attempted to reduce the difference by clearing the rope twice in the penultimate over, but the game was sliding away from the Karachi Kings completely.
Ali was the standout bowler for Multan, taking three wickets of just 23 in his four overs as the Multan Sultans defeated the Karachi Kings convincingly. Ali was supported by Abbas, who took two for 16 in three overs, and Willey, who gave 22 for two in four overs. Usama also got rid of one batter.
