Usman Khan’s spectacular century steered Multan Sultans to a decisive 20- run victory over Karachi Kings in the 19th match of the HBL PSL 9 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.
Usman Khan’s remarkable century was undoubtedly the highlight of the match, earning him the player of the match award. His unbeaten 106 off 59 balls was the centerpiece of the Multan Sultans’ formidable total of 189/3, setting a challenging target for the home team. Despite a valiant effort, Karachi Kings fell short, managing 169/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
The Multan Sultans’ innings got off to a rocky start, losing Reeza Hendricks early for 13 runs. However, captain Mohammad Rizwan, alongside Khan, steadied the ship with a pivotal second-wicket partnership. Rizwan crafted a well-played 58 off 44 balls, including five boundaries, before falling in the 18th over.
Despite a brief hiccup with Iftikhar Ahmed’s dismissal for four runs, Usman Khan continued his assault on the Karachi Kings’ bowlers, reaching his century in the final over with a majestic six. Khushdil Shah remained not out at 6, pushing the Sultans to a competitive total. For Karachi Kings, Blessing Muzarabani bagged two wickets for 32 while while Hasan Ali managed 1 wicket for 34.
Chasing 190 for victory, Karachi Kings started their innings on a shaky note, losing Tim Seifert early for just 1 run. Captain Shan Masood and Shoaib Malik put up a fight with scores of 36 and 38, respectively, but the Sultans’ bowlers kept the pressure on, taking crucial wickets at regular intervals. Despite a late surge from Mohammad Nawaz, who remained not out at 27, and Hasan Ali’s quickfire 17, the Kings could not overcome the mounting run rate, ending their innings 20 runs short of the target.
