LAHORE: Multan Sultans defeated Islamabad United by five wickets and Peshawar Zalmi demonstrated their experience as they beat debutants Rawalpindiz by five wickets on the third day of the Pakistan Super League 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Peshawar, struggling at 130 for four, romped to the 215-run target with five balls to spare, while Multan, in the second match of the day, registered a straightforward victory, overhauling the 172-run target with eight balls remaining.

Islamabad United, after being sent in to bat, posted 171 for eight with Mark Chapman top-scoring with a 21-ball 40 that included three fours and two sixes. Sameer Minhas (28), Devon Conway (26) and Faheem Ashraf (26) were the other main contributors.

For Multan Sultans, Momin Qamar returned impressive figures of 3-0-24-3, while Mohammad Wasim picked up two wickets for 42 runs.

In reply, Multan Sultans’ captain Ashton Turner hit a breezy 28-ball 43 not out with three fours and a six after Josh Philippe had set the tone with a 35-ball 55 containing five fours and two sixes. Philippe and Steve Smith (31, 23b, 1×4, 3×6) added 45 for the second wicket off 31 balls.

Philippe then put on 61 runs off 34 balls for the fourth wicket with Turner.

Arafat Minhas, later in the order, showcased his batting prowess with four fours and a six in an 11-ball 25.

ZALMI SPOIL RAWALPINDIZ’ PARTY

Peshawar Zalmi pulled off a stunning chase, overhauling a 215-run target with five balls and five wickets to spare to hand Rawalpindiz a bitter defeat. The victory was reminiscent of Karachi Kings’ four-wicket win over Multan Sultans last year, when they chased down 235 with four wickets and four balls to spare — also in the third match of the 10th edition.

After posting 214 for four, Rawalpindiz had every reason to smile when they reduced Zalmi to 130 for four in 14.1 overs. However, New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell and Abdul Samad replaced those smiles with concern, putting on 64 for the fifth wicket off just 23 balls, before Aamer Jamal completed the job with a blistering five-ball 17 not out — two fours and a six — as the unbroken sixth-wicket stand yielded 24 runs off eight balls.

Bracewell finished unbeaten on 35 off 17 balls with three fours and two sixes, while Abdul Samad clobbered four sixes and a four in an 11-ball 33. When Mohammad Amir dismissed Abdul Samad, he became Pakistan’s most successful bowler in T20 cricket with 414 wickets, moving ahead of Wahab Riaz.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris had earlier added 78 runs for the opening wicket off 52 balls to give Zalmi a solid foundation. Kusal Mendis then combined with Aaron Hardie for a valuable 32-run third-wicket stand off 21 balls before the Bracewell-Samad show took over.

Haris top-scored with a 28-ball 47 featuring four fours and two sixes, Babar contributed a 28-ball 39 with four fours and a six, while Mendis’ 17-ball 31 included one four and two sixes.

Earlier, Yasir Khan had been the cornerstone of Rawalpindiz’ 214 for four, dominating with a punishing 46-ball 83 that included seven fours and six sixes. Captain Mohammad Rizwan scored a 32-ball 41 with five fours and a six, putting on 125 for the opening wicket with Yasir in 12.1 overs.

Kamran Ghulam (37), Daryl Mitchell (23) and Sam Billings (18 not out) then batted briskly to build on the platform laid by Yasir and Rizwan, as Rawalpindiz scored 113 in the back ten overs after posting 101 in the first.

Scores in brief:

Match 3 – Peshawar Zalmi beat Rawalpindiz by five wickets

RAWALPINDIZ 214-4, 20 overs (Yasir Khan 83, Mohammad Rizwan 41, Kamran Ghulam 37, Daryl Mitchell 23, Sam Billing 18 not out; Ali Raza 2-42)

PESHAWAR ZALMI 218-5, 19.1 overs (Mohammad Haris 47, Babar Azam 39, Michael Bracewell 35 not out, Abdul Samad 33, Kusal Mendis 31, Aamer Jamal 17 not out; Amad Butt 4-45)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Michael Bracewell (Peshawar Zalmi)

Match 4 – Multan Sultans BEAT Islamabad United by five wickets

ISLAMABAD UNITED 171-8, 20 overs (Mark Chapman 40, Sameer Minhas 28, Devon Conway 26, Faheem Ashraf 26; Momin Qamar 3-24, Mohammad Wasim 2-42)

MULTAN SULTANS 175-5, 18.4 overs (Josh Philippe 55, Ashton Turner 43 not out, Steve Smith 33, Arafat Minhas 25; Salman Irshad 2-28, Shadab Khan 2-36)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Momin Qamar (Multan Sultans)

SUNDAY’S FIXTURE – Quetta Gladiators v Hyderabad Kingsmen (2.30pm); Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings (7pm)