KARACHI: Multan Sultans qualified for their first Pakistan Super League (PSL) final after defeating Islamabad United in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Multan won the toss and elected to bat first to set a defendable target of 181 runs for Islamabad United, which was the table topper after winning eight of 10 matches.
In Monday’s second match, the first eliminator, Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and invited Karachi Kings to bat first. The winner of the eliminator will face Islamabad United in the second eliminator on Tuesday.
Monday’s win takes Multan Sultans straight to the PSL final at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Thursday.
“We have done it! Thanks to all your love, support and prayers!” Sultans celebrated in a tweet.
We have done it !
Thanks to all your love, support and prayers! #Sultans win it by 31 runs and reach the Final #IUvMS #SultanAaGayya #Sultans pic.twitter.com/JbeVnUmLUn— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) June 21, 2021
Sohaib Maqsood remained the top scorer from the winning side with 59 runs of 41 balls. Opener Shan Masood scored 25 of 22 balls. A blitzing inning of 41 of 21 by Johnson Charles and 42 of 22 by Khushdil Shah helped Multan give its bowlers a good chance to defend the total.
In the chase, Islamabad lost early wicket of Colin Munro in the first over. Opener Usman Khwaja scored 70 of 41 balls but no other batsman could show resistance to Multan bowlers.
Sohail Tanveer remained the most successful bowler of Sultans and took three wickets by conceding just 17 runs in his four overs. Tanveer also claimed the wickets of the opponent’s both openers, Usman Khwaja and Colin Munro, and earned the player of the match award.
Blessing Muzarabani also grabbed three wickets.
The sixth edition of PSL resumed on June 9. It was suspended in March after a string of positive coronavirus cases among players and officials in Pakistan.