The third match of the PSL 7 between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans was nail biter even from the very beginning. Lahore Qalandars have failed to reach a final yet, but last year was different when they reached semi finals for the first time. They are hoping for a repeat this season.
Multan has already played one match and has won it, so their spirits are high. Captains Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi walked out on to the ground with the match officials for the toss and Multan Sultans won it. Deciding to ball first, the Lahore Qalandars looked forward to put up a big score for the chase.
First Innings – Lahore Qalandars Put Up a Good Fight
The match begun with openers Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman walking out on the pitch while Rizwan and his men hoped to get quick wickets. However, it looked like Fakhar Zaman had other plans as he opened his bat and created chaos.
It rained 6s and 4s with for sometime as the opening partnership made 50 runs together. Both Zaman and Shafique made life hell for Multan Sultan bowlers, but the partnership broke when Imran Tahir worked his magic got the wicket of Abdullah Shafique. Shafique walked back to the dugout after scoring 24 runs on 22 balls and gave his wicket away with a catch well-taken by Khushdil Shah.
Fakhar Zaman was supported by Kamran Ghulam and Zaman managed to get score 50 runs with style. However, it was Ihsanullah who got the danger man out. Fakhar Zaman was caught by Imran Khan and he went back to his dug out after scoring a very important 76 runs in just 35 balls. He scored 11 4s and 2 6s.
Mohammad Hafeez, the Professor walked out and started his innings with a beautifully timed 4, but his innings was short as Hafeez was caught and bowled by Khushdil Shah. While one might think the Lahore Qalandar innings would stop there, but you would be thinking wrong.
Ben Dunk walked out on to the crease. Dunk and Ghulam kept a steady partnership with Dunk supporting Ghulam as he rained 6s and 4s to keep the momentum going. The Lahore Qalandars put 150 runs on the score board in the 16th over and with four more overs to spare, they were looking forward to putting up a big total on the board.
After a blistering performance, Kamran Ghulam was caught out on the boundary by Shahnawaz Dahani and David Willey got his first ticket as well. David Wiese walked out to support Dunk, but Dunk fell prey to a beautiful bowl by Shahnawaz Dahani. The yorker ended the much-awaited Dunk innings.
Rashid Khan walked out and he along with David Wiese rained 6s and 4 to put up 200 runs for Lahore Qalandars. At that moment, it was already the highest score of PSL 7. Despite getting a wicket, Shahnawaz Dahani bowled an expensive over.
With the final over finished, Lahore Qalandars finished their fantastic innings with the big total they wanted. They finished their innings with 206 runs on the board after losing 5 wickets. The team hit 19 4s and 9 6s, which made the first innings as thrilling as an audience hoped for.
Second Innings – Multan Sultans Bounce Back
The second innings of the 3rd match of PSL 7 began with Lahore Qalandars walking in all hyped up after putting up the highest total ever of HBL PSL, beating their original highest total of 204 which was also against Multan Sultans.
Opening for Multan Sultans are Muhammad Rizwan and Shan Masood, the duo was exceptional against Karachi and the Sultans are hoping for a repeat performance. Hoping to draw the first blood for the Lahore Qalandars is Shaheen Shah Afridi, the captain.
The first boundary for the Sultans was hit by Muhammad Rizwan who was itching for a hit after the sensational over by Shaheen Afridi. Rizwan and Shan Masood looked to be in form as they rained 4s after 4s to bring the current run rate up to match the required run rate of 10 runs per over.
Things got a little heated when Dunk made a stumping appeal and the on-field umpire asked the TV umpire for help on this one. After a heart stopping consideration by the TV umpire, Rizwan was deemed not out and he heaved a sign of relief while the Lahore Qalandars looked determined once more.
The Multan Sultans marked their 50 runs on the board with a stylish 6 by Rizwan. The Lahore Qalandars struggled to get wickets, even all of their world class bowlers like Sumit Patel, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Rashid Kahn failed to take wickets and stop scores.
Shan Masood scored his 50 runs on 27 balls comfortably with a single. Once again, Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan succeeded at making 100 run partnership. The team up 100 score on the board in the 9th over without a loss of a wicket. Things weren’t looking good for Lahore Qalandars, even after putting up such a big score.
Mohammad Rizwan scored his 50 runs in just 27 balls with a single right before the time out. With a steady stream of 4s, Multan Sultans were gearing up to conquer this massive score. Shan Masood hit a massive 6 to Rashid Khan to bring the team score up to 150 runs in the 15th over.
On the very next ball, Rashid Khan worked his magic and bowled him clean with a beautiful googly that left the well-set dangerous Shan Masood speechless. Shan Masood made a sensational 83 runs on 50 balls, but his innings made the match for Multan Sultans.
Lahore Qalandars took a sigh of relief, but it was a little too late for them to draw the first blood. The damage was done. Shaheen Afridi came back to change things up a bit and Rizwan knocked him out of the park with a massive 6.
However, Shaheen Afridi is the best bowler in the world for a reason. He finally bowled Rizwan out with a beautiful yorker and the ball crashed the wickets dead on. Rilee Rossouw walked in and began his innings with a 4. His innings was once again was short lived as Haris Rauf bowled the big player out on just 5 runs on 3 balls.
Things got heated up when Shaheen threw a beauty at Tim David. The yorker hit the wickets but the bails didn’t go off. However, all for naught as Shaheen picked the wicket off anyway on the very next ball. Abdullah Shafique caught an easy catch.
Multan Sultans win the match with 5 wickets in hand and 2 balls left. The third match of the PSL 7 ended in a nail biter.
PSL 7 Player of the Match
Shan Masood was awarded the Player of the Match award and received Rs. 500,000 in cash as well as a trophy. Masood scored a splendid 83 runs in just 50 balls.
