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| Photo: PCB |
Sultans' Batting Masterclass: Multan Sultans, batting first after winning the toss, faced a cautious start from Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan against Peshawar's early bowling pressure. However, the innings gained momentum when Rizwan unleashed a series of boundaries, only to be dismissed soon after. Following Rizwan's departure, Sohaib Maqsood and Rilee Rossouw took charge, delivering blistering half-centuries. Maqsood's aggressive strokeplay, including several sixes, and Rossouw's quickfire innings propelled Sultans to a formidable total of 206/4 in their 20 overs. This onslaught put Peshawar Zalmi under immense pressure right from the start of their chase.
Peshawar Zalmi's Chase: Chasing a daunting target, Peshawar Zalmi's hopes rested largely on Hazratullah Zazai, who had been in scintillating form in the eliminators leading up to the final. However, Zazai faced minimal deliveries early on, with Kamran Akmal dominating the strike but failing to provide his partner with the necessary support. Zazai's dismissal after a brief cameo dealt a significant blow to Peshawar's hopes. Mohammad Imran Khan's crucial wicket of Kamran Akmal further dented their chase, leaving them struggling at 36/2 in the Powerplay.
Sultans' Bowling Response: Multan Sultans' bowlers capitalized on the early breakthroughs and kept the pressure on Peshawar throughout their innings. Blessing Muzarabani and Imran Khan picked up key wickets, while the veteran spinner Imran Tahir ran through the middle order with a decisive three-wicket haul. Despite a valiant effort from Shoaib Malik and Sherfane Rutherford to revive Peshawar's innings with aggressive strokes, the mounting required rate proved insurmountable. Multan Sultans' disciplined bowling and sharp fielding efforts restricted Peshawar Zalmi to 159/9 in their 20 overs, handing Multan a comprehensive 47-run victory.
Conclusion: For Multan Sultans, who started the season with a series of losses but rallied back under Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy to secure their playoff berth and ultimately the title, this victory was a testament to their resilience and skill. On the other hand, Peshawar Zalmi fell short in their bid for a second PSL title despite their best efforts throughout the season. The final not only showcased the batting prowess of Sultans' top order but also highlighted their bowling depth and ability to perform under pressure, culminating in a historic triumph in franchise cricket.
Result: Multan Sultans defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs
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