Image Courtesy- Hindustan Times
The team of Multan Sultans won the final of the sixth edition of Pakistan Super League 2021. Multan’s team, led by star wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, reached the final for the first time. He defeated the 2017 champion team Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs. Peshawar’s team has lost in the final for the third time in a row (2018, 2019, 2021).
For the fourth time in the history of PSL, the team that played the first final became the champion. Earlier Islamabad United (2016), Peshawar Zalmi (2017) and Karachi Kings (2020) had managed to win the title in their first final itself. The team of Quetta Gladiators won in 2019 after losing in 2016 and 2017. Lahore Qalandars are the only team that did not become champion even after reaching the final. Multan was the sixth team to reach the Final in PSL. So far, except Lahore, all five franchises have got a chance to lift the trophy.
In the final, Peshawar captain Wahab Riaz won the toss and decided to field first. His decision proved to be wrong. Multan’s team made 206 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. Sohaib Maqsood played an explosive inning of 65 runs off 35 balls. During this, he hit 6 fours and 3 sixes. South African batsman Riley Rosso played a stormy inning of 50 runs in 21 balls. He hit 5 fours and 3 sixes. Shan Masood 37, Mohammad Rizwan 37 and Khushdil Shah scored 15 not out. Samin Gul and Mohammad Imran took two wickets each.
Chasing the target of 207 runs, Peshawar’s team could only manage 159 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Experienced batsman Shoaib Malik scored the highest 48 runs. He hit three fours and three sixes in his 28-ball innings. Kamran Akmal scored 36 runs off 28 balls. Rovman Powell was dismissed for 23 and Sherfane Rutherford scored 18 runs. Legendary leg-spinner Imran Tahir took the highest three wickets for Multan. Imran Khan and Blessing Mujarbani got 2-2 success.