Sohaib, Tanvir lead Sultans to maiden PSL 6 final
ABU DHABI (92 News) - Sohaib Maqsood and Sohail Tanvir starred as Multan Sultans secured their spot in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) sixth edition final in Abu Dhabi.
Multan Sultans scored a victory over Islamabad United by 31 runs and reached the finals of the PSL. In replay to Sultan’s 180, United went off to a disastrous start and they were bowled out for just 149 in 19 overs. Opener Usman Khawaja showed some resistance against the Sultans bowling attack and ended up scoring 70 off 40 balls.
For the winning team, veteran pacer Tanvir was the pick of the bowlers as he registered figures of 3-17 in his four-over spell. He was well-supported by Blessing Muzarabani, who finished with figures of 3-31.
The Sultans had won the toss and set a 181-run target for United at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. The loss for the Shadab Khan-led side means that they will either face Karachi Kings or Peshawar Zalmi in the Eliminator 2.
The winner of Eliminator 1, which will take place later in the day, will face the United in Eliminator 2.
Sohail Tanvir got an early break through for the Sultans as he bowled Colin Munro in the second bowl of the first over for a duck, putting pressure on the United.
In the third over, Imran Khan Snr's direct hit at non-striker's end dismissed Muhammad Akhlaq (10), as he struggled to get across the pitch.
In the fifth ball of the same over, Tanvir capitalised on the pressure that the team had put on United, as he got the wicket of skipper Shadab Khan (0), with a nice catch by Shan Masood at the cover drive.
Blessings Muzarabani, in the ninth over, sent Iftikhar Ahmed (16) back to the pavilion after chipping the ball to Sultans' wicketkeeper and captain Mohammad Rizwan — breaking an important 40-run partnership between Ahmed and Usman Khawaja.
In the 10th over, Mohammad Rizwan stumped Asif Ali (1) as he looked to flick a slow bowl by Imran Tahir.
Khawaja — after Hussain Talat handed him the strike in the 14th over of Blessings Muzarabani — smacked 18 runs to bring back his team in the game.
Tanvir — the experienced bowler who Sultans bring in when they are hot waters — turned United's hopes dim in the 15th over as he dismissed Khawaja for 70.
Veteran spinner Tahir struck again in the 16th over, as he dismissed Hasan Ali (10) with an impressive catch by Rilee Rossouw at long-off, while in the 18th over Mohammad Wasim (13) fell lbw.
In the 19th over, Muzarabani dismissed all-rounders Faheem Ashraf (0) and Hussain Talat (25) to take his team to the finals of the tournament.
Islamabad United's innings
Squad:
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (captain, wk), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Johnson Charles, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Blessing Muzarabani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Shadab Khan (captain), Hussain Talat, Ifthikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Hassan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Waseem, Akif Javed
