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KARACHI: Kusal Mendis half-century and Sufiyan Muqeem’s three-wicket haul helped Peshawar Zalmi ease past Multan Sultans in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Monday.
Chasing 197, Multan Sultans batting lineup crumbled under pressure and could only muster 172-8 at the end of 2o overs.
Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith were quick off the blocks in the chase, adding 30 in 2.4 overs. However, Iftikhar Ahmed removed him for 17 to lift Peshawar Zalmi.
Following the wicket, Josh Philippe joined hands with Smith. The pair made the chase look easy, particulary the former who hit 32 from 17, hitting seven fours.
As a result, Multan Sultans were well poised at 85 in 9.3 overs before a double-wicket over from Sufiyan Muqeem changed the momentum. Smith made 31 from 29, including three fours.
It was Muqeem again who provided his side’s breakthrough in the 13th over. Ashton Turner was bowled for 20, leaving the Sultans four down for 123 runs in 13.3 overs.
Meanwhile, Shan Masood tried to put chase back on track with a quick-fire 35 on 19 deliveries, but his dismissal dashed the Sultans’ hopes of winning the game.
For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem scalped three, whereas Iftikhar Ahmed took two wickets.
The victory kept Peshawar Zalmi at the top spot with 11 points out of six games.
Earlier, Mohammad Haris’ gritty innings, ably backed by Kusal Mendis half-century, propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a big total
Put into bat first, Peshawar Zalmi racked up 196-6 in their 20 overs.
Mohammad Haris gave a flying start, scoring the bulk of runs in the opening overs, bringing the score to 48 in 4.3 overs. The right-hander took Mohammad Nawaz to the cleaners, accumulating nine and 21 runs in his first and third over, respectively.
Haris (38 off 17) departed to Peter Siddle after hitting three sixes and four boundaries.
His wicket, however, did not stem the flow of runs as Babar Azam and Farhan Yousuf stitched a brief partnership of 24. The duo brought the score to 72 in 7.5 overs before Nawaz dismissed Babar cheaply.
The skipper made 18 off 20 with the aid of a single boundary.
With Peshawar Zalmi two down, in came youngster Farhan Yousaf, who put on a 63-run stand off 39 balls with Kusal Mendis to put his side into a strong position. The pair brought the team’s total to 135 in 14.2 overs.
Yousaf made 30 from 22 balls with the help of three sixes, while Mendis continued on his merry way and reached his third consecutive half-century.
Peshawar Zalmi eventually ended their innings with a big total on the board. Kusal Mendis top-scored with 68 from 40 balls, including three maximums and six fours.
For Multan Sultans, Muhammad Ismail and Peter Siddle took two wickets each.
READ: Mohammad Haris achieves THIS milestone during Multan Sultans clash
