PSL 4: Shafiq, Afridi power Multan Sultans to win over Islamabad United

Bowlers played a pivotal role as Shoaib Malik-led side beat Islamabad United.

A day after facing a seven-run defeat against Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans bounced back in style and beat Islamabad United to register their first win in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2019 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Saturday. (ALSO READ: PSL 4: Umar Akmal leads Quetta Gladiators to six-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi)

Shoaib Malik’s decision to elect to bowl paid dividends as the bowling trio of Ali Shafiq, Shahid Afridi and Junaid Khan came to the party, scalping two wickets each to run through the Islamabad United’s middle-order despite Luke Ronchi’s 33-ball 51-run knock at the top of the innings and restricted them to 126.

While the Mohammad Sami-led side kept alive their hopes of defending a low score, dismissing Shan Masood, Johnson Charles and Laurie Evans early. (ALSO READ: Islamabad United beat Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2019 opener)

But Malik, who had scored a half-century in Multan Sultans’ first game, scored an unbeaten 31 off 29 balls, and Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi scored some quick runs, with Afridi hitting the winning runs – a six off Waqas Maqsood as his team chased down the target with 8 balls to spare and five wickets in hand.

Multan Sultans will next face Quetta Gladiators on February 20 at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in Sharjah while Islamabad United’s next game is scheduled on February 17 against Quetta Gladiators.

Brief Scores: Multan Sultans 126/5 (Shoaib Malik 31*, Shan Masood 26; Shadab Khan 2/20) beat Islamabad United 125/7 (Luke Ronchi 51, Faheem Ashraf 20*; Ali Shafiq 2/11)