Superb Rizwan, Maqsood help Multan Sultans dominate Peshawar Zalmi

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Superb knocks from batsmen Mohammad Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood along with an inspired spell of fast-bowling from pacer Shahnawaz Dahani helped Multan Sultans dominate Peshawar Zalmi with an eight-wicket victory in just 16.3 overs during their Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six encounter in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. 

Chasing a tricky target of 167 runs, Multan Sultans were off to a flying start as the openers Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Maqsood combined for a 45-run partnership off just 22 balls. 

Shan Masood was the first wicket Peshawar Zalmi managed to take as pacer Mohammad Irfan forced the batsman to be dismissed caught behind by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. 

A mammoth 116-run partnership off 76 balls followed as batsmen Mohammad Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood batted Peshawar Zalmi out of the game. 

Sohaib Maqsood finally fell to pacer Mohammad Imran, caught by fielder Umaid Asif, in the closing moments of the match after scoring 61 runs off 31 balls. 

The star of the innings however was Mohammad Rizwan who scored an incredible and unbeaten 82-run knock off 56 balls to propel his side to an emphatic victory. 

Pacers Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Irfan managed to pick up one wicket apeice for Peshawar Zalmi. 

Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to field first, Multan Sultans were off to a terrible start after both Peshawar Zalmi openers Kamran Akmal and Haider Ali were dropped in the early goings of the match. 

The opening stand then combined for 71 runs which laid a solid platform for Peshawar Zalmi to post a massive total. 

Pacer Shahnawaz Dahani however stemmed the flow of runs with a double-strike that jolted the opposition. 

The pacer first removed Kamran Akmal (35 off 27), caught by fielder Imran Tahir, before getting rid of veteran allrounder Shoaib Malik for a golden duck, caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. 

Dahani returned in his next over to severely dent the Peshawar Zalmi side once more with another double-strike. 

Haider Ali (28 off 30) was removed first, caught by fielder Blessing Muzarabani, while batsman Rovman Powell (four off four) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. 

Batsman David Miller came out swinging and rushed to a 22-run knock off 14 balls before being removed by pacer Blessing Muzarabani, caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. 

Batsman Sherfane Rutherford played a solid knock, before being run-out towards the end scoring 56 runs off 40 balls to push his side to a respectable total of 166 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted overs. 

Shahnawaz Dahani was the standout bowler from Multan Sultans, picking up four wickets.