Defending champions Multan Sultans have continued their superb start to the season by winning their fourth consecutive match in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) by beating Islamabad United by 20 runs. Despite a valiant effort from skipper Shadab Khan, the team from the capital couldn't get over the line as they fell short of the target. Shadab's 91-run knock was canceled out by Tim David, earlier in the Sultans innings as he scored a blistering 71 off just 29 deliveries.
Both teams were unbeaten coming into the contest, as United captain Shadab won the toss and elected to field at the Karachi National Stadium. But the decision proved wrong as the Sultans started to dominate right from the start. Shan Masood (43 off 31 deliveries) gave the Sultans a perfect start before being dismissed LBW by Marchant de Lange. There were two horrible mix-ups as Mohammad Rizwan (12) and Sohaib Maqsood (13) departed as run-out victims.
Rilee Rossouw and Tim David show
David and Rilee Rossouw were at their fluent best as they took over the initiative after the powerplay overs. David went on to score a terrific 71, which included six sixes and six fours. In the 18th over of the match, David and Rossouw busted onto the scene, by scoring three sixes and a total of 23 runs. The pair put together a 110-run stand for the fourth wicket as the Sultans scored 217/5 in their 20 overs. Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim and De Lange all ended with a wicket apiece.
David, with Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions coming, soon could be attracting a few franchises. His base price of Rs 20 Lakhs, will be a welcome addition as the player will be available at a very low price. He could become the first Singaporean player to play in the IPL if he gets picked by any franchise.
Shadab Khan's valiant effort fells short
Chasing a mammoth 218 runs target, United lost wickets at regular intervals but captain Shadab took the responsibility in his strives. After Alex Hales (23), Paul Sterling (19) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (15), the skipper made sure his team remained in the hunt for the chase. Shadab's knock of 91 runs included a staggering nine sixes and five fours before he went down in the penultimate over to Rumman Raees.
With no one taking responsibility at the other end, Islamabad United were curtailed 20 runs short of the target and ended with 197/10 in 19.4 overs. Khushdil Shah ended with 35/4 while David Willey scalped three wickets for 38.
