Peshawar Zalmi secured a thrilling 5-run victory over Multan Sultans at the Multan Cricket Stadium, with Naveen-ul-Haq holding his nerve to clinch the win in the final over of the match.
Winning the toss in Match 9, Babar Azam opted to bat first, sending Saim Ayub and himself to open the innings against David Willey’s new ball. Despite Willey’s early wides due to swing, Babar found the boundary twice off Mohammad Ali in the second over.
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Saim Ayub’s wicket fell in the 4th over to Shahnawaz Dahani’s delivery, prompting the bowler’s trademark celebration. Haseebullah joined the fray, launching Dahani out of the park before hitting two maximums off Iftikhar Ahmed, only to see captain Babar depart to Usama Mir.
Despite Babar’s departure, the left-handed batter continued his aggressive approach until Mir dismissed him for a brisk 37 off 18 balls. Mir then took a stunning catch to remove Mohammad Haris for a run-a-ball 19.
Rovman Powell contributed a quickfire 23 at a strike rate of over 200 before falling in the last over to Luke Wood’s bowling, with Zalmi finishing at 179-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Fast bowlers Willey and Ali impressed with figures of 2 wickets each.
Multan Sultans began their chase with Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan, but Rizwan’s early dismissal off Luke Wood’s delivery left the team reeling. Yasir anchored the innings, but his departure in the 9th over for 43 slowed the momentum.
Dawid Malan’s aggressive batting, including 18 runs off Salman Irshad’s over, ignited hopes of a comeback, but his dismissal for a brisk 52 in the 15th over stalled the Sultans’ progress. Reeza Hendricks fell to Irshad soon after, leaving debutant Arif Yaqoob to wreak havoc with a sensational 17th over, claiming three crucial wickets.
Despite Abbas Afridi’s efforts, Multan fell short. Naveen-ul-Haq had to defend 22 runs in the final over and despite conceding 16 off the first four balls, he clinched victory by dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed and Shahnawaz Dahani off the last two deliveries.
Luke Wood’s impactful bowling earned him the Player of the Match title, with figures of 2 wickets for 13 runs in his 4 overs.
