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February 20, 2024
Multan, 20 February 2024: In an exciting matchup of MS vs IU, Multan Sultans secured their second consecutive victory in HBL PSL 9 by defeating Islamabad United by five wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. The Sultans restricted Islamabad United to 144 runs in their 20 overs, thanks to impressive bowling performances from Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi. They successfully chased the target in the final over, with a resilient half-century from Reeza Hendricks playing a crucial role.
The decision to field first proved advantageous for Multan Sultans in this MS vs. IU clash, as Islamabad United lost two early wickets. Left-arm pacer David Willey continued his strong form from the previous game, delivering the first breakthrough for Multan Sultans by dismissing opening batter Alex Hales for just two runs in the third over. This early wicket set the tone for the Sultans’ bowling attack.
Multan’s bowlers maintained pressure on Islamabad’s batters as the innings progressed, leading to crucial breakthroughs at regular intervals. The combination of effective bowling and disciplined fielding allowed the Sultans to dominate the match. With their second win in HBL PSL 9, Multan Sultans reaffirmed their strength in this season’s MS vs IU rivalry.
The drama unfolded following the MS vs. IU clash as Colin Munro was caught on the first ball. Still, the bowler’s overstep awarded the Islamabad opening batter a second chance. Three deliveries later, Mohammad Ali redeemed himself by rattling Munro’s stumps, scoring 8 runs off 13 balls with 1 four.
Jordan Cox quickly took charge as the fourth batter, announcing his presence with a maximum against Willey on the fourth ball he faced. In the next over, he added a boundary against Olly Stone to his tally, helping Islamabad United finish the powerplay at 32 for two. Cox and Salman Ali Agha then led a recovery for Islamabad, aggressively taking on right-arm pacer Abbas Afridi and amassing 26 runs off his first two overs, which helped the team gain momentum after the powerplay.
However, Khushdil Shah’s misjudgment in the deep proved costly, as he dropped two catches in the seventh and ninth overs. This mistake allowed the third-wicket partnership to grow and put pressure on the home team during this gripping MS vs IU encounter. As runs began to flow for Islamabad United, the stakes rose for both sides.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir significantly impacted the 12th over of the MS vs. IU match, cutting short the third-wicket partnership by trapping Jordan Cox leg-before. The English batter, who reviewed the on-field umpire’s decision, was eventually dismissed for 41 runs off 28 balls, which included two boundaries and two maximums after the DRS showed three reds.
Azam Khan struggled to find form, managing only 13 runs off 10 balls, with a four and a six, before being caught by Willey at long-on, granting Usama his second wicket of the night. Imad Wasim faced a challenging outing, scoring a three-ball duck, leaving Islamabad United at 105 for 5 in 14.4 overs.
As skipper Shadab Khan joined Salman Ali Agha at the crease, the duo added 35 runs for the sixth-wicket partnership. However, Shadab fell for 11 runs off 9 balls, including one four, after being dismissed by Abbas. Just a ball later, Abbas struck again, claiming his third wicket of the night as Salman, who scored 52 runs off 43 balls with three fours and two sixes, was caught by Khushdil.
Ali made quick work of Faheem Ashraf and Ubaid Shah, while Naseem Shah was run out in the final over, leaving Islamabad United at 144 runs after their 20 overs in this intense MS vs IU matchup. Ali was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance, taking three wickets for just 19 runs. Abbas also claimed three wickets, while Usama contributed with two, and Willey picked up one scalp.
As they defended a target of 145, Islamabad United got off to a strong start when Naseem shattered opening batter Dawid Malan’s middle stumps, sending him back for a two-ball duck. In response, Reeza Hendricks joined Mohammad Rizwan at the crease, and together, they navigated through Naseem’s exceptional new ball spell. The pair forged a solid partnership, accumulating 71 runs and bringing stability to the innings until Rizwan, who scored 43 runs off 33 balls with six fours and two sixes, fell to Naseem, who had brought himself into the attack in the 11th over.
The ongoing MS vs. IU contest showcased thrilling moments as the match swung back and forth with each wicket. Disciplined bowling and strategic partnerships made for an engaging encounter at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Yasir Khan scored eight runs off 11 balls before falling victim to Imad, thanks to a spectacular relay catch by Cox and Hales at deep midwicket in this thrilling MS vs IU encounter. Reeza Hendricks took on Shadab in the 17th over, hitting a six and two fours off three consecutive deliveries to reach his half-century and bring his team closer to the target.
Shortly after, Tymal Mills struck, removing Hendricks, who scored 58 runs off 46 balls with six fours and one six. Naseem then dismissed Khushdil for just three runs in the penultimate over. With the pressure mounting, Iftikhar Ahmed (18 not out off 17 balls, including one six) and Willey (7 not out off 6 balls, with one four) faced Mills in the final over. He completed the remaining four runs to secure the victory for Multan Sultans, finishing the match with one ball to spare.
Naseem emerged as the standout bowler for Islamabad United, taking two wickets for 27 runs in his four overs. Shadab, Imad, and Mills each contributed with a wicket. Still, it was ultimately Multan Sultans’ day in this engaging MS vs IU clash.
Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by five wickets
Match Summary:
Islamabad United were bowled out for 144 runs in 20 overs, with Salman Ali Agha leading the score with 52 runs and Jordan Cox contributing 41. For Multan Sultans, Mohammad Ali had an outstanding performance, taking 3 wickets for just 19 runs. In comparison, Abbas Afridi and Usama Mir added to the tally with 3 wickets for 33 runs and 2 wickets for 29 runs, respectively.
In response, Multan Sultans chased down the target, finishing at 145 for 5 in 19.5 overs. Reeza Hendricks was the star of the innings, scoring 58 runs, while Mohammad Rizwan supported well with 41 runs. Naseem Shah was the pick of the bowlers for Islamabad United, claiming 2 wickets for 27 runs.
Player of the Match: Mohammad Ali (Multan Sultans)
Tomorrow’s Fixtures:
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for The Wicket Insider, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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