Zalmi edge Sultans in thriller despite Iftikhar counterpunch
The Pindi Cricket Stadium crowd chanted “Chacha, Chacha”, as they awaited an “Iftimania” the term which has recently emerged as a description for Iftikhar Ahmed’s power-hitting exploits.
The spectators tend to enjoy match-winning knocks by the Pakistan all-rounder probably more than they do when those come from others. And here on Tuesday night, it was set up for Iftikhar to take the charge for Multan Sultans against Peshawar Zalmi in the HBL Pakistan Super League match.
Coming in to bat when Multan had only scored 91 out of a required 205-run target that Zalmi had set thanks to captain Babar Azam’s half century and an impactful knock by Saim Ayub Iftikhar had a near-impossible task with four wickets down and just 48 balls at hand.
But as expected from the muscular batter, he showed muscle to start off the rescue mission with two fours off Salman Irshad’s slingy pace.
Zalmi pacer Aamer Jamal was not making it any easier for Iftikhar and Khushdil Shah at the other end, bowling with accuracy and leaking no runs whatsoever.
While Khushdil failed to relent the pressure as he fell to Naveen-ul-Haq in the 16th over, the arriving Chris Jordan became Iftikhar’s partner in crime.
The Englishman cleared backward point and long-off for sixes against Naveen and Wood right at the start of his knock and then it was time for Iftikhar to make the Multan camp believe.
With his immense power, Iftikhar smashed Aamer over long-on and deep fine-leg for three sixes in the 18th over. He kept Multan’s hopes alive hitting Naveen for a four and a six in the penultimate over, but a decent last over under pressure by Salman kept Multan from scoring the remaining 23 runs despite Jordan’s two boundaries and handsome straight six by Iftikhar (60 off 27) as Zalmi won by four runs.
Multan’s intent to go after the huge target was crystal clear when Mohammad Rizwan came down the track to launch Saim for a six on the first ball of the chase. Rizwan followed it up with a staggering sweep shot for four before his opening partner Reeza Hendricks opened his arms with a boundary against pacer Luke Wood.