Lahore (PCB Report)
Sahibzada Farhan’s ninth T20 and second HBL Pakistan Super League century helped Multan Sultans scale the 226-run target, fifth-highest successful chase in the history of the tournament, with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare against Hyderabad Kingsmen in the eighth match here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday night.
Kingsmen have now lost three out of their three matches. On Wednesday, the tournament will see its third double-header as Quetta Gladiators take on Islamabad United at 2.30pm PKT and Rawalpindiz go up against Karachi Kings at 6.30pm.
On the back of fourth-highest powerplay score in HBL PSL history – 83 – Multan Sultans romped to their second straight win in the tournament after beating Islamabad United in their first game.
Sahibzada remained unbeaten for 106 off 57 balls striking seven fours and eight sixes and provided Sultans with a blazing start putting on a 104-run opening stand with Steven Smith (46, 20b, 2x4s, 4x6s) in 8.1 overs.
After scoring only six runs in Maheesh Theekshana’s opening over, the duo laid the foundation for the record chase by taking 16, 15, 15, 19 and 12 runs in each of the remaining powerplay overs.
Sahibzada reached his half-century off 25 balls in the seventh over. Kingsmen employed some resistance as their left-arm spinner Hassan Khan provided his team with the much-needed breakthrough removing Smith in ninth over, while Saim Ayub dismissed Josh Philippe in the 10th for a four-ball nine.
With 103 required off the last 10 overs, Sahibzada was on 65 off 35 balls after being dropped in the eighth over by Muhammad Irfan Khan off Maaz Sadaqat. Shan Masood’s blitzy 16-ball 29-run knock comprising two fours and as many sixes made sure the momentum remained intact for Sultans.
Shan and Sahibzada added 45 runs for the third wicket before Saim got rid of former in the 14th over. An over later Ashton Turner fell prey to Theekshana with 190 runs on the board in 15.4 overs.
At this juncture, Arafat Minhas walked in and struck a flurry of boundaries in his unbeaten 11-ball 26 not out including three fours in Mohammad Ali’s 17th over to bring the equation down to 19 needed off 18 balls.
Arafat whacked Riley Meredith for another six and a four off successive balls to almost seal the game in 18th over as Sahibzada had to remain in his 90s for 21 balls before he brought up the record-equaling century off the first ball of Mohammad Ali’s penultimate over.
Sahibzada, who won the game with a six in 19th over, now has joint-fourth most centuries in all T20s behind Chris Gayle’s 22, Babar Azam’s 11 and David Warner’s 10.
For Sultans, Mohammad Wasim Jnr picked up two wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz, Turner and Siddle dismissed one batter each.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen were helped to their first-ever 200+ total with rapid half-centuries from opening batter Maaz and no.5 Sharjeel Khan. Maaz put on a 59-run opening stand with Saim (27, 20b, 3x4s, 1x6) before Peter Siddle drew the first blood for Sultans.
Kingsmen racked up 74 runs in the powerplay after which Turner removed Marnus Labuschagne in the eight over before Maaz raced to his 19-ball half-century – the joint-third fastest in HBL PSL history – on the fifth ball. Maaz departed for 62 off 26 balls striking five fours and as many sixes with Kingsmen 104-3 in 9.3 overs.
Sharjeel walked in at this point and finished 51 not out off 26 balls on the back of three fours and four sixes.
The left-hander, who was playing his first HBL PSL game since 2023, stitched some valuable stands including 23 off 11 balls with Usman Khan (25, 12b, 3x6s), 44 off 30 for the fifth wicket with Syed Saad Ali (23, 19b, 1x4, 1x6) and a blazing unbeaten 54 off 24 balls with Muhammad Irfan Khan (22, 13b, 2x4s, 1x6).
Usman’s three sixes came across four balls against Momin Qamar in the 11th over, which yielded 20 runs, while Sharjeel struck Shehzad Gul for three sixes and two fours in the 18th over taking 30 off it – the joint-third most runs in a single over in HBL PSL history.
Saim picked up two wickets, while Hassan and Theekshana had one each to their name.
Match 8: Multan Sultans beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by six wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Hyderabad Kingsmen 225-5, 20 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 62, Sharjeel Khan 51 not out, Saim Ayub 27, Usman Khan 25, Syed Saad Ali 23, Muhammad Irfan Khan 22 not out; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-37)
Multan Sultans 227-4, 18.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 106 not out, Steven Smith 46, Shan Masood 29, Arafat Minhas 26 not out; Saim Ayub 2-43)
Player of the match – Sahibzada Farhan (Multan Sultans)
Thursday’s fixture:
Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 2.30pm PKT
Rawalpindiz v Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 7.30pm PKT
