Multan Sultans had to defend 20 runs in the last 2 overs in their first
match against Islamabad United on Sunday.

But in the 19th over, Multan lost the match due to a six and three
fours and the same story was repeated on Tuesday.

When Peshawar Zalmi needed 21 runs to win against Multan and 3 sixes in
the 19th over defeated Multan once again.

This was Multan’s second consecutive defeat in the current season of
Pakistan Super League (PSL) and if the last three matches of last season are
combined, and then the series of defeats of Sultans has been extended to 5
matches.

What is the problem with the Multan Sultans?

Regarding the match against Islamabad United, it can be said that the
target of 151 runs was not so big that it could be easily defended but against
Zalmi, Multan scored 193 runs? Then what happened?

The first reason is the excellent performance of the Peshawar batsmen,
who maintained a competitive atmosphere from the beginning. Kamran Akmal played
a good innings of 37 off 24 balls despite eating young Shahnawaz Dhani’s stormy
ball on the helmet.

Then Imam-ul-Haq continued to advance towards the target by scoring 48
runs off 39 balls. Later, Sharfin Rutherford (15 off just 6 balls) and Tom
Kohler-Cadmore (53 off 32 balls) put the innings in the next gear and Haider
Ali made the final and decisive strike.

In other words, the condition of Multan bowlers in this match was very
bad. See for yourself that strike bowler Sohail Tanveer scored 40 runs in just
3 overs, Carlos Braithwaite scored 41 runs in 4 overs, Shahid Afridi 38 and all
three did not get a wicket.

Young Shahnawaz Dhani bowled very well before his last over, had taken
2 wickets for just 20 runs in 3 overs, but could not withstand the pressure of
the 19th over. Usman Qadir took one wicket for 29 runs and somewhat escaped
Zalmai’s war.

In other words, we can say that while the reason for Multan’s defeat
was the excellent performance of the Peshawar batsmen, the bowlers also had a
hand in it that could not even defend the target of 194 runs.

Undoubtedly, Multan has the best batting line at the moment. The ‘man
in form’ is Mohammad Rizwan who also scored 41 off 28 balls in this match.
Chris Lane. Those who have not been able to show their true colors yet but have
come to Pakistan from the Big Bash League with a good form and after failing in
2 matches now they have a good innings loan, which they will pay in any match.

Then there is James Vince of England who has come in with the best form
since the Big Bash and in this match he played a brilliant innings of 84 off 55
balls, which would have been the ‘Man of the Match Performance’ if Tom Kohler
of Peshawar had been the man of the match. Don’t play the innings. Then Sohaib
Maqsood appeared in Tarang after a long time, and scored 36 runs off just 21
balls and thus Multan put up a very good score.

But in the end all these runs proved to be insufficient as there were
some ‘turning points’ in the match which later proved to be decisive. Like the
last over of Multan’s innings. In the 19th over, James Vince got out after
hitting Saqib Mahmood with a six and a four. It was hoped that it would be very
difficult for young Muhammad Imran to stop Riley Russo and Khushdal Shah in the
last over but Imran bowled a brilliant over. He gave only 7 runs on the last 6
balls and with an increase of only 9 runs on the last 9 balls, Multan’s innings
was limited to 193 runs.

 

For a moment, Multan could easily cross the 200 mark, but it did not
happen. Thus, the psychological pressure on the opponent of the target of more
than 200 runs could not put Multan. The role played by Haider Ali in those
moments of Peshawar Zalmi’s innings could not be played by Khushdal Shah of Sultans.
Peshawar scored 31 off the last 10 balls while Multan scored only 13 and this
was the difference between victory and defeat in the end.

 

Then Multan also missed a few ‘half chances’, like Carlos Braithwaite
showed a slight delay on the long on and Imam-ul-Haq’s catch was lost. Not a
single run-out opportunity was taken advantage of, after which Tom Kohler
played the decisive innings.

 

It would be an exaggeration not to mention Muhammad Imran, a young man
from Peshawar Zalmai. In such a high scoring match, he took 1 wicket by giving
only 24 runs in his 4 overs. He also included the last over in which he gave
only 7 runs. How great was this bowling? This can be gauged from the fact that
Wahab Riaz of Peshawar scored 51 runs in 4 overs, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman 40 and
Mohammad Irfan 41 runs.

 

Multan’s batting line is undoubtedly alive, and this can be seen from
the two matches played so far, but the bowling problem is serious. The key
bowlers are out of form like Sohail Tanveer. Therefore, for the next matches,
Multan will have to make very tough decisions and think carefully. But throwing
just one over should not discourage Shahnawaz Dhani as it is usually the case
that defeat falls on the weak.

 

However, with this first victory, Peshawar Zalmai has finally come to
the points table where Lahore Qalandars currently rule. The Multan Sultans now
have to face the Lahore Qalandars in the All Punjab Derby on February 26, which
has been winning all the matches, while Peshawar Zalmi will face the
traditional rivals Quetta Gladiators on the same day, after two defeats. It’s
like a wounded lion.