Multan Sultans will face off against Islamabad United in match five of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Tuesday, 20th February.
Multan entered with a commanding display in their first encounter against the Karachi Kings, establishing themselves as a formidable force in the tournament. Dawid Malan and Reeza Hendricks orchestrated a masterful batting performance, propelling the Sultans to a formidable total exceeding 180 runs.
Their bowling contingent, spearheaded by Mohammad Ali's adept variations and death-over expertise, efficiently stifled the Kings' batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 130 runs.
This comprehensive victory catapults the Sultans to the summit of the points table, instilling confidence and momentum as they gear up to confront future challenges in the league.
Under the captaincy of all-rounder Shadab Khan, Islamabad United kicked off the PSL journey with an emphatic victory over the Lahore Qalandars, signalling their intent in the tournament. Despite the Qalandars' formidable batting display, posting a daunting total of 195 runs, United exhibited resilience and composure in their pursuit.
Losing Colin Munro early did not deter them, as Shadab Khan and Agha Salman mastered a brilliant chase, steering their team to a commanding eight-wicket triumph with ample deliveries to spare. This resounding win propels Islamabad United to the second position on the PSL 2024 points table, setting the stage for a promising campaign ahead.
Pitch Report
Only one game has taken place at the Multan Cricket Stadium in PSL 9 so far. It was the aforementioned game between Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings. Reeza Hendricks, who won the Player of the Match award for his knock of 79* off 54 balls in the first innings, said in the post-match presentation ceremony that the ball was holding for the spinners.
The Powerplay is going to be crucial as the teams would want to capitalise on the field restrictions and get as many runs as possible before scoring gets tougher with the old ball. There isn't any real possibility of rain, and the fans are expected to witness an uninterrupted encounter.
Probable Playing XIs
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Dawid Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Yasir Khan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani
Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan (wk), Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Tymal Mills, Ubaid Shah
Prediction
The match is expected to be a cracker with both teams coming back with a win. But Multan playing the game at their home ground and with better balance, they are in a position to win.
