Match 16 of the Pakistan Super League saw Multan Sultans register their second win of the season. They defeated Karachi Kings by 12 runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday, June 10.
Babar Azam’s 63-ball 85 not out went in vain as Karachi were restricted to 164/7 by Imran Khan (3-28), Imran Tahir (2-27), & co.
Imad Wasim won the toss and invited the Sultans to bat first. He struck in the very first over himself, getting Rahmanullah Gurbaz stumped on 3. Shoaib Maqsood was in fine touch from the word go, and brought up 31 off just 14 balls before getting bowled by Waqas Maqsood.
Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw then added 68 runs for the third wicket. Rossouw made 44 in 24 balls, while Rizwan got run out for a 23-ball 29. Khushdil Shah then played a blistering cameo, amassing 44 runs with three fours and two sixes to take Sultans to 176/5.
Karachi then lost Sharjeel Khan early in the chase. Babar and Martin Guptill (11) played cautiously, adding 43 runs for the second wicket before the latter got out to Tahir.
With 23 needed of the last over, Imran Khan got Thisara Perera and Wasim off successive deliveries. Qasim Akram tried turning the tides but it was too late by then. Akram got dismissed on the last ball.
Multan Sultans 176/5 in 20 overs (Khushdil Shah 44*; Thisara Perera 2-12) beat Karachi Kings 164/7 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 85*; Imran Khan 3-28) by 12 runs. Player of the Match: Rilee Rossouw.