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That was a nail-biting thriller and it was a pleasure bringing in all the live updates from this game. The Multan Sultans continue their dominating run in the tournament while the Karachi Kings keep searching for the second win, The action continues tomorrow with Peshawar Zalmi slated to lock horns against Islamabad United. Till then, it's goodbye and good night from the commentary box. This is me, Arya Sekhar Chakraborty signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator Karthik Raj. Cheers!!!
Mohammad Rizwan (Player of the Match and the Multan Sultans captain): The crowd was fascinating. They showed a lot of love, it didn’t matter for them which day of the week it was. We hope that everywhere in Pakistan the crowd remains the same. Early on, I didn’t really play well. Shan was batting well so I took some time. I had no answers in front of Shoaib Malik and Imran Tahir. Shoaib bhai is a very experienced player and it is impossible to get anywhere close to the experience those two guys have. Credit to our bowlers, the pitch was a beleter. I felt that we were still 10-15 runs short. The way the bowlers have stood up. Credit should go to everyone. Cricket is a challenge every day. We hope to carry on the momentum.
Mohammad Rizwan is the Player of the Match.
James Vince is the Energetic Batter of the Match.
Kieron Pollard gets the Moment of the Match Award for his acrobatic catch of Ben Cutting.
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony.
Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings skipper): We had it in the bag but couldn’t finish it off. It’s unfortunate but we were lacking game awareness in the end. I think the inter was really nice but in the middle overs it slowed down. We should have finished 3 out of the 4 games. Unfortunate but we cannot do anything about that now. Yes we have to, We have to sit and talk. If we lose one more we might be out of the competition. We are there in there about but it’s all about clicking. We will sit and talk and hopefully can come back stronger in the second half of the tournament.
Andy Flower: It is our last game in Multan this year. It has been brilliant and a great way to finish it. Brilliant atmosphere and brilliant from our young Pakistani pacers to finish off the game. Rizwan is making a lot of decisions out there, a tough game to captain. Vince was outstanding, we did well to win in the end.
Multan Sultans won by 3 runs
Multan Sultans 196/2 in 20 overs Mohammad Rizwan 110*(64) | Shan Masood 51(33) | Shoaib Malik 1/29(4)
Karachi Kings 193/5 in 20 overs James Vince 75(34) | Imad Wasim 46(26) | Abbas Afridi 2/55(4)
The Karachi Kings were well aware of the fact that they needed a brisk start to harbor hopes of chasing down a stiff target of 197. The opening duo of Matthew Wade and James Vince came out with real intent and put the Multan Sultans bowlers on the backfoot right from the word go. It was Wade who started the onslaught in the second over of Carlos Brathwaite, slamming him for 19 runs to get things underway.
James Vince then decided to take the onus on hismelf and played a blinder and almost single-handedly took them over the finishing line. It was sheer carnage from the English opener as none of the Multan Sultans bowlers could find their rhythm in front of Vince who looked in a murderous mood. The boundaries kept coming thick and fast as the Karachi Kings raced off to 72/0 at the end of 6 overs.
The Multan Sultans found the much-needed breakthrough with the first ball of Usama Mir. It turned in sharply and trapped Wade right in front of the stumps. Vince never carried on his blitzkrieg and even took the attack to Usama Mir. He didn’t allow him to settle and kept the pressure on the rest of the bowlers. Vince looked set to take them over the line until a horrible mix-up with Haider Ali brought about his downfall. His knock of 75 came in a mere 34 deliveries and was studded with 7 fours and 6 sixes.
From there on, the momentum totally shifted towards the Multan Sultans as none of the batters could get going. Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik took 17 and 19 deliveries for their respective scores of 12 and 13 which was just not good enough especially when you are chasing a target of 197. Khushdil Shah bagged the wicket of Haider while Kieron Pollard’s acrobatic catch at long-on sent back Malik.
Imad Wasim didn’t give up hope and clattered a couple of important sixes of the penultimate over to bring the equation down to 22 required off the final over. Abbas Afridi was handed the ball and he conceded a no ball six of the very first delivery to turn the game on its head. Ben Cutting then smashed a six to bring the equation down to 6 off 4 but Abbas Afridi made a stunning comeback and won it in the end for the Sultans by 3 runs. He bowled three slower deliveries, getting the wicket of Cutting and Imad eventually couldn’t quite take them over the line.
Earlier in the day, it was a splendid century from Mohammad Rizwan which helped the Multan Sultans score a more than competitive score of 196 in their allotted 20 overs. Shan Masood got them off to a flying start, Rizwan took his time initially and struggled to find the boundaries. However, he went berserk in the final few overs, smashing the Karachi Kings bowlers all around the park. He remained unbeaten on 110 off 64 deliveries.
What a match we have witnessed. Abbas Afridi will be relieved after getting out of jail. He almost conceded the match after a couple of sixes but he held his nerves and eventually sealed the deal for his team. Multan Sultans knows the winning mantra and again they manage to get out of a corner. Multan win by 3 runs and a despondent Karachi Kings side shaking hands with their teammates and the opposition.
20
overs
193/5score
7nb
1
1wd
6
1wd
0
W
1
1
runs
Imad Wasim*
46(26)
Irfan Khan
1(1)
Abbas Afridi
2/49
19.6 Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, ABBAS AFRIDI PULLS OFF A STUNNING VICTORY FOR MULTAN!! Length delivery, Wasim slaps it along the ground to long-off but it is just a single. Karachi go down by three runs. This must be heart-breaking for them after coming so close!
Imad Wasim will take strike for the final delivery. A six will win it for the Karachi Kings while a four will take it to the super over. Anything less and it will be the Multan Sultans who will come out on top. All to play for.
19.5 Abbas Afridi to Irfan Khan Niazi, full, slow and wide of off, Irfan drags it to long-on for a single. Imad will be on strike for the last ball!
Irfan Khan Niazi, RHB comes out to the crease.
This is a huge wicket. Abbas Afridi was under tremendous pressure but he delivered when his team needed him the most. The slower delivery worked for him on that occasion. Mind you, the new batter will be on strike. Still 6 required off 2.
19.4 Abbas Afridi to Ben Cutting, STRAIGHT DOWN THE THROAT OF KEIRON POLLARD!! THIS GAME CONTINUES TO SURPRISE US!! Slower, back of a length delivery bowled wide of off, Cutting slaps it flat to long-off where Pollard takes the catch. Is there another twist in this game? Might well be!! Karachi need 6 off two balls now!
Ben Cutting c Kieron Pollard b Abbas Afridi 12 (10b 4x1 6x1)
6 needed off 3. This is going down to the wire.
19.3 Abbas Afridi to Ben Cutting, slower length delivery bowled wide of off, Cutting swings hard but he doesn't make a connection. Crucial dot ball!
19.3 Abbas Afridi to Ben Cutting, length delivery outside the tramline, WIDE called. Abbas Afridi is under a lot of pressure here!