ABU DHABI – Multan Sultan’s top-order helped the team to set a strong target of 207 runs for Peshawar Zalmi in the high octane final match of the Pakistan Super League’s sixth edition at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Shan Masood (37) and Mohammad Rizwan (30) took a steady start as the team lost first wicket at 68 runs when the latter was dismissed by Mohammad Imran.
And they're off! @iMRizwanPak gets the first 6⃣ of the innings!#HBLPSL6 | #MatchDikhao | #MSvPZ pic.twitter.com/t2xpXhOAfI
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) June 24, 2021
Sohaib Maqsood smashed unbeaten 65 runs while Rille Rossouw’s fifty also helped the team build a tough target for the former champions. Rossouw was sent to the pavilion by Sameen Gul while Johnson Charles went for a duck. Khushdil Shah scored 15 runs.
💯 up with a big 6!@sohaibcricketer with a flick off @WahabViki #HBLPSL6 | #MatchDikhao | #MSvPZ pic.twitter.com/Y3biGte7Ss
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) June 24, 2021
Sameen Gull and Mohammad Imran claimed two wickets each.
It's Pakistan cricket – of course there is a young fast bowler making a name for himself in the final!@realmimran14pk now with both wickets to fall so far 🙌🏼 #HBLPSL6 | #MatchDikhao | #MSvPZ pic.twitter.com/exrkSHX2xU
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) June 24, 2021
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and decided to field first against Multan Sultans.
After 33 matches, the sixth edition of the country’s biggest T20 tournament will have a crowned champion when Sultans will take on Zalmis with the first ball to be bowled at 9:00 pm.
Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi to battle for HBL PSL 6 glory
Read more: https://t.co/SgqJFYGwV1@MultanSultans @PeshawarZalmi #HBLPSL6 | #MatchDikhao pic.twitter.com/VOCOf6pQ6S
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) June 23, 2021
Wahab Riaz led Zalmis will be playing their fourth final while it will be the first experience for Multan who qualified for the key clash after defeating Islamabad United by 31 runs in the first PSL qualifier. The win in the first qualifier had put aside Multan’s dubious record of being the only PSL side without a final appearance so far.
Rise Up Tonight
March Like We Own The Game
It’s Our Domain#Zalmi #YellowStorm #ZKingdom #HBLPSL6 #Zazai pic.twitter.com/r785lTEJDJ— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) June 24, 2021
Ahead of the high final match, both captains have set their sights on the glittering PSL 6 trophy. Zalmi captain in a virtual press conference on Wednesday said ‘Since the beginning of the Pakistan Super League, Peshawar have played like a family. We believe in the Team mantra (Together Each Achieve More). This mantra is one of the reasons for our success. All our squad members and the team management of Mohammad Akram and Daren Sammy have a big part to play in our success. We play an aggressive brand of cricket and believe in taking the game to the opposition, we will play the final with the same frame of mind.’
Adding that ‘he was wary of ‘dangerous’ Multan ahead of the PSL final as it would be a battle of nerves between the two teams in the final. It is going to be our fourth final. We know the pressure of the final. Multan Sultans are undoubtedly an outstanding team and they have made a great comeback, a very dangerous team for sure, but the pressure of the final will be different. The final is all about who enjoys the game more,’ he further added.
On the other hand, Mohammad Rizwan-led Sultans were languishing at the fifth spot with just a win from five games when the tournament was suspended in Karachi on 4 March. However, the Abu Dhabi leg has brought them an incredible change in their fortunes with them clinching five victories in six games, including the qualifier victory over Islamabad United.
It’s decided
T H E F I N A L 🏆#Sultans vs @PeshawarZalmi #SultanAaGayya #HBLPSL6 #HBLPSLFinal pic.twitter.com/rruIwzccVN
— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) June 22, 2021
Mohammad Rizwan said during a press briefing on Wednesday said Sultans are fully prepared and go all out for the trophy. We will put in our best effort and will pray to God Almighty for the desired result, he said in a presser.
PSL 2021 Eliminator 2: Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 8 wickets to reach final
SQUAD
Peshawar Zalmi
Kamran Akmal (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Imam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Khalid Usman, Wahab Riaz (c), Umaid Asif, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Imran
Multan Sultans
Mohammad Rizwan (captain, wk), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Johnson Charles, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Blessing Muzarabani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani
PSL 6 Prize Money:
Winner – PKR 75million
Runner-up – PKR 30million
Player of the tournament – PKR3million
Best Batsman – PKR0.8million
Best Bowler – PKR0.8million
Best Fielder – PKR0.8million
Best Wicketkeeper – PKR0.8million
Spirit of Cricket – PKR3.2million
