Cometh the hour, cometh the man they said and Sohail Tanvir, the veteran Multan Sultans bowler actually lived up to it, pulling out his best performance of Pakistan Super League 2021 to send his team to its first-ever Final in the history of the PSL. His 3-17 in the four overs spell at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium consisted of the wickets of the most dangerous Islamabad United men Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja and their skipper Shadab Khan.
Khushdil Shah and Sohaib Maqsood were the heroes with the bat for Multan Sultans. While Maqsood scored a 41 ball 59 in his usual attacking style with the help of seven fours and three sixes, it was Khushidl’s cameo at the end which really got the team an advantage over the United.
The 26-year-old left-hander smacked a 22 ball 42 which included 29 runs in one over, in which he smacked youngster Akif Javed all over the park for four sixes and a four. It took Sultans to 180, a never before achieved total for the team in the Abu Dhabi leg.
Chasing 181, United, the most successful team of the tournament in the league stage were rattled by Tanvir who removed Munro in the very first over. Soon Mohammad Akhlaq and Shadab too departed, leaving Islamabad reeling at 14-3 in the first three overs.
Khawaja tried his level best to take United close to the chase, but never find any partner to partner him long and well enough. He became the last of the three scalps of the 36-year-old. The Australian scored a 40 ball 70. Tanvir was awarded Man of the Match for this performance of his.
Post his wicket, mere formalities were left which were completed by Blessing Muzarabani as he picked up three wickets as well. United were eventually bowled out for 149 in 19 overs.
Earlier in the day, Multan skipper Mohammad Rizwan decided to bat after winning the toss. However, the decision wasn’t well backed by himself as an opener as he went out for a duck. Shan Masood and Maqsood then joined hands to add 53 for the second wicket before Masood too was removed. Johnson Charles then gave company to Maqsood before getting out on 41 from 21. And after the departure of Masood, the Khushdil Shah show began.
Even after losing this game, Islamabad would have a shot at the Final once again when they face the winner of the first Eliminator between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings. Sultans on the other hand would now have a proper two days of rest before they would face their opponent in the Final on June 24.