Multan Sultans opened their account in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 in style, defeating Lahore Qalandars by 33 runs in a high-scoring thriller at Multan Cricket Stadium. Yasir Khan was the star of the night, smashing a blistering 87 off 44 balls to help the Sultans post a mammoth 228 for 5 — the highest PSL total ever recorded in Multan.
Winning the toss and batting first on a scorching evening, the Sultans got off to a flying start as Yasir Khan and captain Mohammad Rizwan (32) took on Lahore’s premier fast bowlers. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan — once the pride of the Qalandars’ attack — were taken to the cleaners. Yasir plundered Zaman for three sixes and a four in a single over, while Rizwan hammered 20 off Rauf to take Multan to 79 in the powerplay.
After Rizwan’s dismissal, Yasir continued the assault with Usman Khan (39), while Iftikhar Ahmed delivered the finishing touches with a fiery unbeaten 40 from just 18 deliveries. The final over from Shaheen went for 14 as Multan surged to 228, with Afridi, Rauf, and Zaman conceding a combined 119 runs from their eight overs.
In response, the Qalandars never found the required momentum. Fakhar Zaman gave hope early on with a quickfire 32 off 14, including a towering six off Michael Bracewell. But his dismissal by Ubaid Shah — brilliantly caught by Josh Little — derailed Lahore’s chase.
Despite a brief partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Daryl Mitchell, wickets fell at regular intervals. Multan’s bowlers, led by Ubaid (3-37), Bracewell (2-20), and Usama Mir (2-26), executed their plans to perfection. Sam Billings (43) and Sikandar Raza (50* off 27) tried to fight back, but the task proved too steep as Lahore finished on 195 for 9.
This win gives Multan Sultans a crucial early boost in PSL 2025, while Lahore Qalandars are left searching for answers. Yasir Khan’s Player of the Match performance and the collective bowling effort underlined Sultans’ depth and intent.
With the home crowd roaring behind them, the Sultans now look like a team to watch as the tournament heats up.
