DUBAI: Multan Sultans opened their account in the HBL PSL by upsetting the title holders Islamabad United with a hard-earned five-wicket win on day three in Dubai on Saturday. In a low scoring match Multan’s newest pace bowler Ali Shafiq (2-11), evergreen Shahid Afridi (2-18) and return to his best Junaid Khan (2-33) restricted Islamabad to 125-7 in their 20 overs after Shoaib Malik won the toss and opted to field first. Luke Ronchi’s 33-ball 55 with five sixes and a single boundary anchored an otherwise unimpressive Islamabad innings as Multan kept taking wickets to check Islamabad’s progress. But Multan too find the going tough before skipper Malik took the responsibility upon himself by scoring an undefeated 29-ball 31 which had two sixes. When 12 runs were needed off the last two overs Afridi – who finished with eight-ball 16 not out — smashed Waqas Maqsood two sixes to seal the match. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was the pick of Islamabad bowlers with 2-20 and also effected a run out of Shan Masood who made 20-ball 26 with four boundaries. Malik said he was calm as he knew they had batsmen who could change the complexion of the game. “I was calm which comes by playing and I knew that we have explosive batsmen at five, six and seven who could hit big when needed and that’s what I was clam,” said Malik. “We bowled well and the credit goes to the bowlers.” Islamabad skipper Mohammad Sami admitted his team were 20 runs short. “We were some 20 runs short,” said Sami. “We lost wickets at regular intervals and that pushed us back.” It was Ronchi who dealt in sixes when Islamabad batted. Islamabad, who were off to winning start with a victory over Lahore on Thursday, raced to 58 by the eight over but a cluster of wickets halted their progress. After a four-run first over, Ronchi launched attack against spinner Chris Green, hitting him for two sixes but wickets of Rizwan Hussain (four) and Cameroon Delport (nought) pulled them back. But Ronchi – top scorer of HBL PSL last year with 435 in 11 matches — was not bothered as he smashed two sixes and a four off Andre Russell to complete his fifty off just 31 deliveries. But once he fell, caught at deep square-leg off Shahid Afridi, only 36 runs came in the next eight overs. Next over Hussain Talat fell for seven while Phil Salt (four) and Asif Ali ((two) left Islamabad in a dire strait at 76-6. Shadab Khan scored 15 but it were Samit Patel and Faheem Ashraf (both scoring 20 not out) who took Islamabad to 125-7, adding 29 — 13 in the penultimate over. Shafiq earned man of the match award for his excellent bowling, mixing his slower ones to the best effect in his debut HBL PSL match. “I had a good coordination with the skipper and I stuck to what he told me,” said Shafiq, who was not played in team’s loss to karachi Kings on Friday. “You need to mix your slower ones and that’s what I got that rewards.” Arch rivals Karachi Kings meet Lahore Qalandars meet in the second match later Saturday. ---------------------------------------------------------- Waqas Maqsood to Shahid Afridi, SIX Waqas Maqsood to Shahid Afridi, SIX Waqas Maqsood to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Waqas Maqsood to Shahid Afridi, 1 run End of over 18: Multan Sultans: 112/5 Faheem Ashraf to Shoaib Malik, no run Faheem Ashraf to Shoaib Malik, no run Faheem Ashraf to Shahid Afridi, 1 runs Faheem Ashraf to Shahid Afridi, 5 no ball Faheem Ashraf to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Faheem Ashraf to Shahid Afridi, 1 run Faheem Ashraf to Shoaib Malik, 1 run End of over 17: Multan Sultans: 103/5 Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Shahid Afridi, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Shahid Afridi, no run Mohammad Sami to Russell, OUT Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, SIX End of over 16: Multan Sultans: 94/4 Waqas Maqsood to Russell, SIX Waqas Maqsood to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Waqas Maqsood to Russell, 1 run Waqas Maqsood to Russell, FOUR Waqas Maqsood to Russell, FOUR Waqas Maqsood to Shoaib Malik, 1 run End of over 15: Multan Sultans: 77/4 Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, no run Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, no run Shadab Khan to Russell, 1 run Shadab Khan to Russell, no runs Shadab Khan to Hammad Azam, OUT End of over 14: Multan Sultans: 75/3 Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, FOUR Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 2 runs Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run End of over 13: Multan Sultans: 65/3 Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, no run Shadab Khan to Hammad Azam, 1 run Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, no run Shadab Khan to Hammad Azam, 1 run End of over 12: Multan Sultans: 61/3 Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, no run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 1 leg bye Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, no run Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run End of over 11: Multan Sultans: 57/3 Patel to Hammad Azam, no run Patel to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Patel to Shoaib Malik, SIX Patel to Hammad Azam, 1 run Patel to Shoaib Malik, 1 run End of over 10: Multan Sultans: 48/3 Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 1 run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, no run Mohammad Sami to Hammad Azam, no run Mohammad Sami to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Muhammad Sami to Hammad Azam, 1 run End of over 9: Multan Sultans: 44/3 Shadab Khan to Hammad Azam, 1 run Shadab Khan to Evans, OUT Shadab Khan to Evans, no run, Shadab Khan to Evans, 2 runs Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run Shadab Khan to Shoaib Malik, no run End of over 8: Multan Sultans: 40/2 Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no runs Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no runs Faheem Ashraf to Shaan Masood, OUT Faheem Ashraf to Shan Masood, FOUR Faheem Ashraf to Evans, 1 run Faheem Ashraf to Shan Masood, 1 run End of over 7: Multan Sultans: 35/1 Shadab Khan to Shaan Masood, 1 run Shadab Khan to Evans, 1 run Shadab Khan to Evans, 2 run Shadab Khan to Shaan Masood, 1 run Shadab Khan to Shaan Masood, FOUR Shadab Khan to Evans, 1 run End of over 6: Multan Sultans: 24/1 Faheem Ashraf to Evans, 1 run Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no run Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no runs Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no runs Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no runs Faheem Ashraf to Evans, no runs End of over 5: Multan Sultans: 23/1 Patel to Shan Masood, no runs Patel to Evans, 1 run Patel to Evans, no run Patel to Shan Masood , 1 run Patel to Shan Masood, FOUR Patel to Evans, 1 run End of over 4: Multan Sultans: 16/1 Waqas Maqsood to Shan Masood, no run Waqas Maqsood to Evans, 1 run Waqas Maqsood to Shan Masood, 1 run Waqas Maqsood to Shan Masood, FOUR Waqas Maqsood to Shan Masood, 2 runs Waqas Maqsood to Evans, 3 runs End of over 3: Multan Sultans: 5/1 Patel to Shan Masood, no run Patel to Shan Masood, no run Patel to Evans, 1 run Patel to Evans, no run Patel to Shan Masood, 1 run Patel to Shan Masood, no run End of over 2: Multan Sultans: 3/1 Waqas Maqsood to Evans, no runs Waqas Maqsood to Evans, no runs Waqas Maqsood to Evans, no runs Waqas Maqsood to Charles, OUT Waqas Maqsood to Charles, no run Waqas Maqsood to Shaan Masood, 1 run End of over 1: Multan Sultans: 2/0 Patel to Charles, no run Patel to Charles, no run Patel to Charles, no run Patel to Charles, no runs Patel to Charles, 1 wide Patel to Shaan Masood, 1 run Patel to Shaan Masood, no runs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad United set a target of 125/7 End of over 20: Islamabad United: 125/7 Russell to Patel, 1 run Russell to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run Russell to Patel, 1 run Russell to Faheem Ashraf, 1 bye Russell to Faheem Ashraf, 2 runs Russell to Patel, 1 run End of over 19: Islamabad United: 118/7 Junaid Khan to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR Junaid Khan to Faheem Ashraf, SIX Junaid Khan to Faheem Ashraf, no run Junaid Khan to Patel, 1 run Junaid Khan to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run Junaid Khan to Patel, 1 run End of over 18: Islamabad United: 105/7 Russell to Patel, no runs Russell to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run Russell to Patel, 1 run Russell to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run Russell to Faheem Ashraf, 2 runs Russell to Faheem Ashraf, no run End of over 17: Islamabad United: 99/7 Ali Shafiq to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run Ali Shafiq to Patel, 1 run Ali Shafiq to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run Ali Shafiq to Faheem Ashraf, no run Ali Shafiq to Shadab Khan, OUT Ali Shafiq to Shadab Khan, 2 run End of over 16: Islamabad United: 94/6 Mohammad Irfan to Patel, no run Mohammad Irfan to Shadab Khan, 1 run Mohammad Irfan to Shadab Khan, no runs Mohammad Irfan to Shadab Khan 2 run Mohammad Irfan to Patel, 1 run Mohammad Irfan to Patel, no run End of over 15: Islamabad United: 90/6 Ali Shafiq to Shadab Khan, no run Ali Shafiq to Patel, 1 runs Ali Shafiq to Patel, no run Ali Shafiq to Shadab Khan, 1 run Ali Shafiq to Shadab Khan, no runs Ali Shafiq to Patel, 1 run End of over 14: Islamabad United: 87/6 Junaid Khan to Patel, 1 runs Junaid Khan to Shadab Khan, 1 run Junaid Khan to Patel, 1 run Junaid Khan to Patel, no runs Junaid Khan to Patel, no runs Junaid Khan to Patel, FOUR End of over 13: Islamabad United: 80/6 Shahid Afridi to Patel, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Patel, no run Shahid Afridi to Patel, no run Shahid Afridi to Patel, no run Shahid Afridi to Shadab Khan, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Patel, 1 run End of over 12: Islamabad United: 77/6 Junaid Khan to Patel, 1 run Junaid Khan to Patel, 1 run Junaid Khan to Asif Ali, OUT Junaid Khan to Shadab Khan, 1 run Junaid Khan to Asif Ali, 1 run Junaid Khan to Shadab Khan, 1 run End of over 11: Islamabad United: 73/5 Shahid Afridi to Asif Ali, no run Shahid Afridi to Asif Ali, no run Shahid Afridi to Shadab Khan 1 run Shahid Afridi to Asif Ali, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Salt, OUT Shahid Afridi to Shadab Khan, 1 run End of over 10: Islamabad United: 70/4 Junaid Khan to Salt, FOUR Junaid Khan to Shadab Khan, 1 run Junaid Khan to Shadab Khan, no runs Junaid Khan to Shadab Khan, 2 runs Junaid Khan to Hussain Talat, OUT Junaid Khan to Hussain Talat, 2 runs End of over 9: Islamabad United: 61/3 Shahid Afridi to Ronchi, OUT Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, no run Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, no run Shahid Afridi to Ronchi, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, 1 run End of over 8: Islamabad United: 58/2 Russel to Hussain Talat, 1 run Russell to Ronchi, 1 run Russell to Ronchi FOUR Russell to Ronchi, SIX Russell to Ronchi, SIX Russell to Ronchi, 2 runs End of over 7: Islamabad United: 38/2 Shahid Afridi to Ronchi, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Ronchi, no run Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, SIX Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, 1 run Shahid Afridi to Hussain Talat, no run Shahid Afridi to Ronchi, 1 run End of over 6: Islamabad United: 29/2 Mohammad Irfan to Ronchi, 1 run Mohammad Irfan to Ronchi, no run Mohammad Irfan to Hussain Talat, 1 run Mohammad Irfan to Hussain Talat, no runs Mohammad Irfan to Ronchi, 1 run Mohammad Irfan to Ronchi, no run<doc-sep>The fourth match of the PSL-4 will be played on Saturday at 5-00 pm at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans. This will be the second match for both of them as Islamabad won their first match by 5 wickets against Lahore Qalandars while Multan were defeated by just 7 runs against Karachi Kings. Both Islamabad and Multan have balanced sides but the former have an edge with a victory in their first match. United the defending champions led by fast bowler Mohammad Sami. However, Multan is being captained by veteran all-rounder and former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik who hit an aggressive fifty against Karachi Kings on Friday. Islamabad United in the inaugural match of the PSL4, played on Thursday, did not play so well as they lost their four top-order batsmen for 49 runs but later the batting prowess of Asif Ali, Hussain Talat and Faheem Ashraf guided the defending champions to a five-wicket win. However, it was Asif who changed the comlexion of the game with a whirlwind 19-ball 36 with three sixes and two fours as Islamabad chased down the 172-run target with four balls remaining. Multan also played well in their first match against Karachi Kings on Friday. Shoaib Malik's 28-ball 52 and Laurie Evans's 39-ball 49 gave their side some hopes of a win but Karachi Kings's left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir taking four wickets in a rdturn-to-form spell snatched the victory.<doc-sep>
DUBAI: Multan Sultans opened their account in the PSL by upsetting the title holders Islamabad United with a hard-earned five-wicket win on day three in Dubai on Saturday. In a low scoring match Multan’s newest pace bowler Ali Shafiq (2-11), evergreen Shahid Afridi (2-18) and return to his best Junaid Khan (2-33) restricted Islamabad to 125-7 in their 20 overs after Shoaib Malik won the toss and opted to field first. Luke Ronchi’s 33-ball 55 with five sixes and a single boundary anchored an otherwise unimpressive Islamabad innings as Multan kept taking wickets to check Islamabad’s progress. But Multan too find the going tough before skipper Malik took the responsibility upon himself by scoring an undefeated 29-ball 31 which had two sixes. When 12 runs were needed off the last two overs Afridi – who finished with eight-ball 16 not out — smashed Waqas Maqsood two sixes to seal the match. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was the pick of Islamabad bowlers with 2-20 and also effected a run out of Shan Masood who made 20-ball 26 with four boundaries. Malik said he was calm as he knew they had batsmen who could change the complexion of the game. “I was calm which comes by playing and I knew that we have explosive batsmen at five, six and seven who could hit big when needed and that’s what I was clam,” said Malik. “We bowled well and the credit goes to the bowlers.” Islamabad skipper Mohammad Sami admitted his team were 20 runs short. “We were some 20 runs short,” said Sami. “We lost wickets at regular intervals and that pushed us back.” It was Ronchi who dealt in sixes when Islamabad batted. Islamabad, who were off to winning start with a victory over Lahore on Thursday, raced to 58 by the eight over but a cluster of wickets halted their progress. After a four-run first over, Ronchi launched attack against spinner Chris Green, hitting him for two sixes but wickets of Rizwan Hussain (four) and Cameroon Delport (nought) pulled them back. But Ronchi – top scorer of HBL PSL last year with 435 in 11 matches — was not bothered as he smashed two sixes and a four off Andre Russell to complete his fifty off just 31 deliveries. But once he fell, caught at deep square-leg off Shahid Afridi, only 36 runs came in the next eight overs. Next over Hussain Talat fell for seven while Phil Salt (four) and Asif Ali ((two) left Islamabad in a dire strait at 76-6. Shadab Khan scored 15 but it were Samit Patel and Faheem Ashraf (both scoring 20 not out) who took Islamabad to 125-7, adding 29 — 13 in the penultimate over. Shafiq earned man of the match award for his excellent bowling, mixing his slower ones to the best effect in his debut HBL PSL match. “I had a good coordination with the skipper and I stuck to what he told me,” said Shafiq, who was not played in team’s loss to karachi Kings on Friday. “You need to mix your slower ones and that’s what I got that rewards.” Arch rivals Karachi Kings meet Lahore Qalandars meet in the second match later Saturday.