Shan Masood’s fighting half-century helped the Multan Sultans post a respectable total against the Hyderabad Kingsmen in Eliminator 1 of Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Batting first, Multan Sultans scored 159-9 in their 20 overs, powered by Masood’s unbeaten 69 off 46 balls, which included four sixes and four boundaries.
The Kingsmen pace attack — Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed, and Hunain Shah — made early inroads, troubling the opposition in the first five overs.
The in-form duo of Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith added 28 runs in 2.5 overs before both fell in quick succession. Farhan scored 15 while Smith managed 13.
The Sultans’ innings suffered further setbacks when Josh Philippe was dismissed for 6, trapped by Hunain Shah in the fourth over, reducing them to 36-3.
The collapse continued as Shan Masood kept losing partners at the other end. At the halfway stage, Multan Sultans had lost six wickets and were struggling at 85-6.
Despite the pressure, Masood held the innings together and added a crucial 34-run partnership with Faisal Akram for the ninth wicket. His resilience ensured the Sultans crossed the 150-run mark and finished with a fighting total.
For the Hyderabad Kingsmen, all three pacers shared six wickets between them, making significant impact with the ball.