By Alam Zeb Safi
KARACHI: A stellar all-round performance from Arafat Minhas propelled Multan Sultans to a narrow 11-run victory over Karachi Kings in a high-octane HBL PSL 11 encounter at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Defending a formidable total of 207, Multan’s bowling unit, led by Arafat Minhas’s three wickets, survived a late onslaught from the Kings’ lower order to secure two vital points.
The win took Sultans to the second spot with ten points from seven games. The loss left Kings with six points from seven appearances.
After being asked to bat first, Multan Sultans overcame the early loss of Steven Smith (0) to post a massive 207-7. The innings was ignited by a blistering 66-run second-wicket partnership between Awais Zafar (36) and Josh Philippe. Philippe was particularly aggressive, smashing five boundaries and two sixes in a 23-ball 44.
Skipper Shan Masood kept the momentum shifting in the middle overs with a quick-fire 46 off 25 balls, including three sixes. However, it was Mohammad Imran’s late-innings pyrotechnics that took the game away from Karachi. Imran remained unbeaten on 26 from just eight deliveries, striking two sixes in the final overs to push the total past the 200-mark.
Khushdil Shah was the pick of the Karachi bowlers, claiming 3-35, while Moeen Ali chipped in with two wickets.
Karachi’s chase began poorly as they slumped to 47-3 within the powerplay. Arafat Minhas struck early, removing the dangerous Jason Roy (16) and Salman Agha (2) in quick succession.
Reeza Hendricks (49) and captain Moeen Ali (27) attempted to resurrect the innings with a 67-run stand for the fourth wicket. Hendricks played the anchor role, hitting five fours and two sixes, but his dismissal in the 13th over triggered a middle-order wobble.
With the required rate climbing, Abbas Afridi (34 off 16) and Hasan Ali (23 off 10) unleashed a barrage of boundaries to bring the crowd to their feet. The pair shared a frantic partnership that kept Karachi in the hunt until the final over. However, two crucial run-outs orchestrated by Minhas and wicketkeeper Philippe in the dying stages ended Karachi’s hopes, as they were eventually bowled out for 196 with two balls to spare.
Minhas finished with figures of 3-32 and was named Player of the Match for his decisive impact with both bat and ball.
Summarized Scores:
Multan Sultans: 207-7 in 20 overs (Shan Masood 46, Josh Philippe 44; Khushdil Shah 3-35)
Karachi Kings: 196 all out in 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 49, Abbas Afridi 34; Arafat Minhas 3-32)
Result: Multan Sultans won by 11 runs.
