PSL 2018, Match 1 Review: Multan Sultans stun the defending champions in the season opener

On one side it was the tournament’s newest entries Multan Sultans and on the other, the defending champions and the experienced Peshawar Zalmi. Banking on two superlative knocks from senior players Shoaib Malik and Kumar Sangakkara, the Sultans triumphed in the season opener by 7 wickets and are off to an ideal start.

Earlier in the night, the Sultans had won the toss and elected to bowl first. Zalmi lost the on-song Kamran Akmal in the very second over of the tournament, which indeed was a huge blow. Tamim Iqbal too didn’t stick around for a long time as Darren Sammy’s team lost both their openers inside the Powerplay.

Dwayne Smith and Mohammad Hafeez somehow steadied the ship with a decent partnership for the 3rd wicket. Both these players failed to accumulate runs swiftly but ensured the wickets didn’t tumble. Exactly one ball before the halfway mark, Dwayne Bravo lost his wicket and the Sultans were back in control of the innings.

Hafeez added another decent 44-run stand with Haris Sohail, which took them past the 100-run mark a little sooner than expected. Hafeez injected some life into the innings and got to a well-compiled half-century. After Haris Sohail’s dismissal, in walked the skipper Darren Sammy, who did exactly what fans want to expect him to do.

Sammy played an explosive knock and helped his side finish off in style. He stroked an 11-ball 29, which included 3 sixes and 2 fours. Peshawar Zalmi somehow crawled past the 150-mark, thanks to these priceless contributions from Hafeez and Sammy. They ended up scoring 151 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.

Sohail Tanvir proved he still hasn’t lost his touch with a brilliant spell. He registered figures of 2/19 and South African fast bowler Hardus Viljoen bowled a decent spell as well.

Sultans off to an ideal start

Pakistan’s senior batsman Ahmed Shehzad was dismissed for a duck, much to the disappointment of his admirers. Just like the Zalmi, even the Multan had lost a wicket in the very second over of the innings. Kumar Sangakkara used all his experience to help his side get into a decent position after that start and accompanying him was all-rounder Sohaib Maqsood.

This duo added 47 runs for the second wicket and they never really looked back after that. After Maqsood was dismissed for a 16-ball 21, skipper Shoaib Malik walked in and showed some intent in his approach. Young bowlers Hammad Azam and Ibtisam Sheikh faltered big time and conceded runs heavily thanks to the brilliance of Shoaib Malik.

Sangakkara on the other end kept piling up runs silently and registered a brilliant half-century. It wasn’t the quickest of innings, but that was just about good enough for the required rate. His knock came to an end when he knicked the ball off Wahab Riaz and walked back caught behind. Kieron Pollard was the next man in for the Sultans.

Pollard played some beautiful shots and ensured the game didn’t go to the last ball. Towards the end, their bowlers just about gaining some momentum, but Malik and Pollard ensured the target was chased with 5 balls remaining. Malik remained unbeaten on 42 off 30 balls, whilst Pollard returned with a 13-ball 21.

Here’s what Sanga tweeted after the victory

Great to get off to a winning start. Brilliant by Mohammed Irfan and @realshoaibmalik. Back tomorrow for another match. @MultanSultans

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) February 22, 2018

Brief Scores

Peshawar Zalmi: 151/6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 59, Darren Sammy 29; Sohail Tanvir 2/19)

Multan Sultans: 152/3 in 19.1 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 57, Shoaib Malik 42; Wahab Riaz 2/19)

Multan Sultans won by 7 wickets

Player of the match: Kumar Sangakkara

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