Rawalpindi, April 19, 2025:
Multan Sultans arrived at their home ground on Sunday morning ahead of next week’s back-to-back matches, still reeling from their third successive defeat in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2025. On Saturday, Peshawar Zalmi handed the 2021 champions a crushing 120-run defeat at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
At the Multan Cricket Stadium, the Sultans will take on Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United on Tuesday (April 22) and Wednesday (April 23), respectively. They’ll be hoping to end their winless run in front of home fans and keep their play-off hopes alive.
Fielding first in front of a packed Rawalpindi crowd, the Sultans made a promising start. Michael Bracewell cleaned up Saim Ayub on the seventh ball of the innings, while David Willey trapped Babar Azam lbw on the 13th, reducing Zalmi to a precarious five for two.
However, the 2017 champions staged a strong comeback, thanks to priceless contributions from Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, Hussain Talat, Mitchell Owen and Abdul Samad, eventually posting a formidable 227 for seven.
In reply, Multan Sultans were rocked by teenage fast-bowling sensation Ali Raza. From 63 for one in 6.4 overs, they collapsed to 107 all out in 15.5 overs – losing their last nine wickets for just 44 runs in 9.1 overs.
Ali Raza was at his lethal best, returning figures of 4-0-21-4. His victims included Kamran Ghulam (6), Michael Bracewell (3), Ashton Turner (0) and Iftikhar Ahmed (2). He was on a hat-trick after dismissing Bracewell and Turner on consecutive deliveries; although Iftikhar denied him the feat, he fell to Raza six balls later.
Usman Khan was the only Multan batter to offer any resistance, scoring a brisk 44 off 22 balls with four fours and three sixes. Shai Hope scored 20, while Mohammad Rizwan (15) and David Willey (13) were the only other batters to reach double figures.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Peshawar Zalmi’s innings was revived by a 79-run third-wicket stand off just 33 balls between Cadmore and Haris. After the early departures of Saim and Babar with just five runs on the board, the duo shifted momentum decisively.
Cadmore then added 53 runs for the fourth wicket with Hussain Talat (29-ball 37), while Abdul Samad and Mitchell Owen provided the finishing flourish, blasting 73 runs for the sixth wicket off just 25 balls. Zalmi scored 83 runs in the last five overs, surging from 144 for five after 15 overs to 227 for six.
Cadmore top-scored with 52 off 30 balls (two fours, five sixes), while Haris smashed 45 off 21 (four fours, three sixes). Owen bludgeoned 34 off 15 balls (one four, four sixes).
Nonetheless, it was Abdul Samad who was named Player of the Match for his game-changing 14-ball 40, featuring 4 fours and 3 sixes. He also took three catches in the outfield to seal the accolade.
Willey and Bracewell were the most successful bowlers for Multan, finishing with two wickets apiece.
Scores in brief:
HBL PSL 2025 Match 9 – Peshawar Zalmi beat Multan Sultans by 120 runs
Islamabad United 227-7, 20 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 52, Mohammad Haris 45, Abdul Samad 40, Hussain Talat 37, Mitchell Own 34; David Willey 2-36, Michael Bracewell 2-37, Ubaid Shah 2-40)
Multan Sultans 107 all-out, 15.5 overs (Usman Khan 44, Shai Hope 20, Mohammad Rizwan 15; Ali Raza 4-21, Arif Yaqoob 3-20, Mitchell Own 2-2)
Player of the match – Abdul Samad (Peshawar Zalmi)
