It was a brilliant batting performance by the Multan Sultans, who ripped the Peshawar Zalmi bowlers a new one during their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023. Led by Rilee Rossouw, the Sultans chased down Zalmi's massive total of 242 runs to secure an important four-wicket victory over Babar Azam's team.
Rossouw scored a massive 121 runs off 51 balls and was ably helped by the likes of Kieron Pollard (52 off 25) and Anwar Ali (24 off 8), after the Sultans lost their openers Shan Masood (5 off 5) and Mohammad Rizwan (7 off 6). But from then, it was the South African veteran's time to shine.
Rossouw took the game to the opponent bowlers, finding the boundary with every opportunity that he could. He found the boundary on regular intervals and set up a 99-run partnership with Pollard off just 43 balls. This was the turning point of the match and despite the loss of the West Indian's wicket off Wahab Riaz's bowling, Rossouw went strong and notched his half-century off just 17 balls.
This equalled the record for the fastest half-century in PSL history, done in 17 balls by both Asif Ali and Kamran Akmal.
Rossouw would go on to break another record as well, his own one that he set in the PSL back in 2020. He did so when he completed his century off just 43 balls, breaking the record for the fastest PSL century, which was previously 45 balls.
The South African was eventually sent back to the pavilion after he scored 121, with Azmatullah Omarzai getting his wicket in the 19th over. However, the damage was already done and a late flurry by Anwar took the game off the Multan Sultans' hands.
Earlier, Zalmi skipper Babar and his opening partner Saim Ayub shared a partnership of 134 runs off 70 balls before Usama Mir got the much-needed breakthrough. From then it was smooth sailing for the Zalmi batters, with Mohammad Haris (35 off 11), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (38 off 18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (16 off 6).
This was Zalmi's second straight loss after scoring 240+ runs.
