KARACHI: Multan Sultans’ skipper Mohammad Rizwan will try his utmost to vanquish the experienced Peshawar Zalmi tonight (Thursday) as the two teams lock horns for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 trophy.
The showdown is slated to begin at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (today) at 9pm.
Multan defeated Islamabad United in the Qualifier by 31 runs to reach their first PSL final. Zalmi, the 2017 winners, defeated Karachi Kings by five wickets and overwhelmed two-time champions Islamabad United by eight wickets in the eliminators to set the final date with Sultans.
🎊 It's the #HBLPSL6 FINAL! 🎊
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) June 24, 2021
First time finalists @MultanSultans will face off four time finalists @PeshawarZalmi. Can the Yellow Storm win their second trophy or will the Sultans raise their first?
All the action today, 9pm PST. #MatchDikhao l #HBLPSL6 I #MSvPZ pic.twitter.com/um27kzcF8c
Multan’s success story reflects their strong resolve and the commitment with which they played in the Abu Dhabi leg after having won just one game from five outings in the Karachi leg.
Multan, coached by former Zimbabwe skipper Andy Flower, registered four successive wins in Abu Dhabi before losing the final league game against United. But it did not affect their position as they finished second due to better net run-rate despite having finished with ten points along with Zalmi and Kings.
Zalmi, playing their fourth PSL final, are more experienced and will have the advantage of this in the decider. Zalmi will be looking forward to another handy contribution from their Afghan opener Hazratullah Zazai who hit back-to-back fifties to play a key role in Zalmi’s wins in the eliminators.
Introducing Australian batsman Jonathan Wells against United in the eliminator on Tuesday was a solid step from Zalmi as the right-hander hit an unbeaten 55.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has experience to his advantage and can swing the game in Zalmi’s favour.
Rovman Powell and Sherone Rutherford are the others who will be looking to support Zalmi’s batting in the death overs.
Wahab Riaz, having a fine event so far with the ball, will be looking to lead from the front. Umaid Asif, Amad Butt and a few spin options will try to thwart Multan’s batsmen’s onslaught.
