Maqsood’s fifty, Tanvir’s cameo propels Sultans to 169-8

Sohail Tanvir hit 24 runs in the final over of the innings

PHOTO COURTESY: PCB

Sohaib Maqsood’s 60-run knock propelled Multan Sultans to 169-8 against Lahore Qalandars on Friday in HBL PSL 6.

After being asked to bat first by Qalandars, Sultans were dealt an early blow as Shan Masood was trapped lbw by Shaheen Afridi on the first ball of the match.

Shaheen continued to run in at full steam and had an intense battle with Mohammad Rizwan. With Shaheen going at full throttle, Sultans decided to target James Faulkner and Maqsood hit the all-rounder for a massive six after accumulating couple of boundaries earlier in his first over.

After a cautious start, Rizwan upped the ante and smashed a couple of boundaries in Haris Rauf’s first over. But it was Rauf who had the last laugh as Rizwan was caught behind for 15 on the final delivery of the same over.

Rashid Khan removed Johnson Charles for 10 in his second over to further derail Sultans’ innings.

The flurry of wickets didn’t slow down Maqsood, who continued to accelerate from the other end. After hitting a six against Ahmed Daniyal, Maqsood smashed consecutive sixes against Mohammad Hafeez, to bring up his fifty in just 27 balls.

Maqsood found an able ally in Rilee Rossouw, who rotated the strike and kept hitting an odd boundary every over. Daniyal came back in the 15th over to break the 63-run partnership with Rossouw caught behind for 29.

Sultans needed Maqsood to stay till the end but he was removed by Shaheen Afridi for 60 in the 17th over. Faulkner came back into the attack next to further derail Sultans’ efforts to reach a competitive total as his slower delivery outfoxed Khushdil, who was caught behind for 6.

Imran Tahir hit Faulkar for a boundary on his first ball, but was caught at cover –point by Akhtar on the next delivery.

Shaheen cleaned up Blessin Muzarabani in his final over to pick his third wicket of the match.

However, it was Sohail Tanvir, who hit 24 runs in the final over of the innings, bowled by Haris Rauf, to take Sultans’ total past 160.