MULTAN: Multan Sultans recorded their second successive home win in the HBL Pakistan Super League V by beating Karachi Kings by a comfortable 52-run margin at the Multan Cricket Stadium here on Friday. A fine bowling performance led by spinners Imran Tahir and Shahid Afridi who shared five wickets between them set the tone of Multan’s comfortable win after their batsmen had set what proved to be a match winning 186 for six first innings score. Sohail Tanvir who got a four-wicket haul in Multan win over Peshawar Zalmi on Wednesday took two wickets for 20 runs. Alex Hales with 29 and Umaid Asif 20 were the only batsmen to offer some resistance in what was a less than inspiring batting performance by Karachi.
Batting first after being asked to bat at the toss, Multan posted a formidable 186 for six total in their allotted 20 overs courtesy half-centuries by opener and man-of-the-match Moeen Ali and captain Shan Masood. The two added 71 runs for the second wicket partnership after Zeeshan Ashraf (23 off 13 balls) had provided the hosts a flying start in a 31-run opening stand with Moeen. Moeen hit four fours and as many sixes in his 65-run innings that came off 42 balls; he was the second wicket to fall. Shan also faced 42 balls scoring 61 runs with the help of seven fours and one six. Khushdil Shah (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as Multan innings was built on the contributions by Moeen and Shan. Pacers Mohammad Amir and Chris Jordan took two wickets each for Karachi: Amir conceding 27 and Jordan conceding 29 runs respectively in their four over spells.
Scores in brief:
Multan Sultans 186 for 6, 20 overs (Moeen Ali 65, Shan Masood 61; Mohammad Amir 2-27, Chris Jordan 2-29) VS Karachi Kings 134 all out, 17 overs (Alex Hales 29, Umaid Asif 20, Chadwick Walton 15; Imran Tahir 3-28, Shahid Afridi 2-18, Sohail Tanvir 2-20)
Result: Multan Sultans win by 52 runs.