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Right then, that is it from this one-side encounter where Multan Sultans get over the line pretty easily in the end. However, the action in the Pakistan Super League 2023 continues as Karachi Kings will take on Lahore Qalandars in a bit. That game will start at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can just switch tabs now to catch all the build-up to the game. Cheers!

Mohammad Rizwan, the winning captain of Multan Sultans says that he is happy with the win. Mentions that everyone has contributed well as it’s coming off nicely for us. Lauds David Miller, Abbas Afridi, Usama Mir and Rilee Rossouw for their effort in this game and closes by saying that they wish to continue this momentum ahead.

Abbas Afridi is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his amazing bowling performance (3-0-22-4). He says that he just tried to apply what he learned in the practice sessions and thanks the team management and coaching staff. Adds that he tried to mix it up while bowling to keep the batters guessing and is happy with his performance.

Shadab Khan, the skipper of Islamabad United says that they have confidence with our process (on the question of bowling first in the day game). Adds that they gave away way too many runs in the middle and his own bowling wasn’t up to the mark. Reckons that 190 was chaseable on the surface. Mentions that he needed one more bowling option in the middle so had to bring in Abrar Ahmed in place of Asif Ali. Adds that it’s good that they got the loss early in the season. Closes out by saying that they will try to learn from their mistakes and get better in coming games.

Presentation Time ...

Earlier in the innings, after being asked to bat first, Multan Sultans posted a huge total on the board thanks to fifties from  their skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, and David Miller, who took a liking to Shadab Khan. Rumman Raees bowled well, but everyone else was a bit too expensive. In reply, Islamabad United tried their best with Rassie van der Dussen leading the charge, but the lack of support meant that they could not get over the line.

Carlos Brathwaite is up for a flash interview. He says that they tried to keep things simple while batting which helped them get a good score. Credits their pacers and also says that Usama Mir bowled very well and picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs which is a key part of his game. Praises Ihsanullah and tells that he uses his yorkers and slower balls well and is always willing to learn.

Multan Sultans did not let go of the momentum created by their batting and used it while bowling as well. Mohammad Ilyas picked up a couple of wickets in the Powerplay and put pressure on their opponents. They did give an opportunity to Islamabad United to come back and build a partnership, but Usama Mir had other plans and changed the game again by getting rid of a set Colin Munro and Shadab Khan in the same over. Then the other bowlers took advantage of that and created more pressure on the batters, especially Ihsanullah with his express pace. Abbas Afridi destroyed the lower middle order of their opponents by picking up four wickets in no time and Ihsanullah finished the job with the last two wickets.

Islamabad United did not get off to a good start as they lost Paul Stirling quite early. Hassan Nawaz played a few lusty blows, but he too fell after that. Then the repair job was done by Rassie van der Dussen and Colin Munro, who stitched up a 55-run partnership before Munro lost his wicket after scoring 31 runs off 23 balls. Shadab Khan came in to up the ante, but he holed out without troubling the scorers much. Rassie van der Dussen stayed for a while, but he did not get any support from the other end and with the run rate creeping up, he too lost his wicket after scoring 49 runs. Their lower order fell like a pack of cards and ultimately they fell short by 52 runs and will need to go back to the drawing board.

A dominant victory for Multan Sultans! They absolutely thrash Islamabad United by 52 runs and strengthen their position at the top. We have seen a clinical bowling performance here and it was a sight to behold as their pacers were right on point. They get their third win while Islamabad United will need to comeback stronger in the next game.

OUT! CLEANED UP! ALL OVER FOR Islamabad United! Ihsanullah finishes it off in style! Bowls it full and fast yorker on the stumps. This is too fast for Abrar Ahmed as he backs away to play this and the ball castles through the stumps. Multan Sultans get their third win on the trot and get over the line by 52 runs.

Rumman Raees is the last man in.

OUT! WHAT A SPECIAL CATCH BY Mohammad Rizwan. Ihsanullah bangs it in short and into the batter. Tom Curran goes for the pull and gets it off the glove. The ball baloons up wide of Rizwan who dives and takes a brilliant catch to dismiss Tom Curran. Ihsanullah gets his first one of the night as Islamabad United slides further.

Yorker on off. Rumman Raees drills it to mid-off for one.

FOUR! BANG! Fuller one on the stumps. Rumman Raees clears his front leg and heaves it down the ground past the bowler toward long-on for a boundary.

Full and outside off. Rumman Raees pushes at it as the ball goes past him quickly.

The Hat-trick ball from Abbas Afridi. Goes for the yorker on off and gets it spot on. Rumman Raees brings the bat down in time and works it to mid-wicket for one.