PSL 2023: Rossouw’s savage hitting propels Multan Sultans to play-offs

Multan Sultans powered their way into the Pakistan Super League playoffs after completing a spectacular run-chase to beat Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi.

The Sultans’ final total of 244 for 6 is the highest second-innings score in PSL history.

This is the second time Zalmi have failed to defend a score in excess of 240 in the space of three days.

Two days ago, Quetta Gladiators had achieved the 241-run target for the loss of two wickets with 10 balls to spare.

Zalmi posted 242-6 from their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.

The batting heroes for Peshawar were yet again, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam.

Captain Babar Azam followed up a hundred in their last game with a top score of 73.

Fellow opener, Saim Ayub made 58 off 33 balls with five fours and four sixes. This was his fourth half-century in five innings

Stung by the criticism about his selfish batting, Azam played aggressively using up just 39 deliveries and smashing nine fours and two sixes.

In the process, Azam became the second leading run-getter of PSL 2023 with 416 runs (12 runs behind Mohammad Rizwan of Multan Sultans).

Mohammad Haris contributed 35 as and Kohler-Cadmore took them above and beyond 200, clobbering Ali for two fours and two sixes, before falling for a crucial 38.

Abbas Afridi was the pick of bowlers on what was a though day for the bowlers.

The fast bowler registered figures of 4-0-39-4.

The most expensive bowlers of the day were Anwar Ali of Mulatn Sultans (4-0-66-1) and Azmatullah Omarzai of Peshawar Zalmi (4-0-62-2).

In reply, Multan started disastrously after losing openers Shan Masood (5) and Momammad Rizwan (7) early.

Peshawar must have thought they had the match in the bag but were stunned by an innings of pure brilliance.

Multan’s man of the moment was Rilee Rossouw who created history by racing to the fastest HBL PSL century off 41 balls, improving his own record by two balls

Rossouw and Kieran Pollard put together what ended up being a match-winning 99-run third-wicket partnership.

Rossouw’s 121 included a 99-run third-wicket stand with Kieron Pollard (52).

He reached his 50 off just 17 balls with six fours and four sixes.

He crashed eight sixes in all, two of which came off Azmatullah Omarzai’s third over that went for 20.

Rossouw carved out useful partnerships to keep the momentum going.

He added 58 runs from 29 balls for the fifth wicket with Khushdil Shah (18) and then, 21 off 13 with Anwar Ali (24 not out).

Multan Sultans achieved the 243-run target with five balls to spare.

There was a minor alarm as Tom Kohler-Cadmore pulled off an inspired catch to dismiss the Rossouw in the penultimate over with Sultans still needing 16 off nine deliveries.

But Usama Mir and Anwar Ali settled the nerves with a six each to finish the over.

Mir flicked Arshad Iqbal to the boundary to complete victory with five deliveries remaining.

While this was a record HBL PSL run-chase, this is the joint-second highest run-chase overall in T20 cricket.

Scores

Peshawar Zalmi 242-6, 20 overs (Babar Azam 73, Saim Ayub 58, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 38, Mohammad Haris 35, Abbas Afridi 4-39)

Multan Sultans 244-6, 19.1 overs (Rilee Rossouw 121, Kieron Pollard 52, Anwar Ali 24 not out; Azmatullah Omarzai 2-62)

Player of the Match – Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans)