Dawid Malan and Reeza Hendricks scored brisk half-centuries to take home side Multan Sultans to 185/2 in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 campaign opener against Karachi Kings on Sunday. Put into bat first, the Sultans registered a commendable total on the board, courtesy of a marathon second-wicket partnership between Malan and Hendricks. The home side, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as Mir Hamza trapped their skipper Mohammad Rizwan lbw on the first delivery of the third over with just 17 runs on the board. The Sultans were unfazed by the early blow as Hendricks joined Malan in the middle to give them a steady start. Their 121-run partnership finally lasted in the 17th over when Dawid Malan misjudged Daniel Sams’ slower delivery and launched the ball straight to substitute fielder Irfan Khan at deep midwicket. Malan smashed four boundaries and a six on his way to a 41-ball 52. Hendricks, on the other hand, stood his ground firm and carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 79 off 54 deliveries, laced up seven boundaries and three sixes. He was involved in yet another crucial partnership for the Sultans when he added 47 runs alongside Khushdil Shah, who played an important cameo at the backend. Khushdil scored 28 off 13, hitting four boundaries, to help Hendricks bolster the Sultans’ total. For the Kings, Mir Hamza and Daniel Sams bagged one wicket apiece. Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan, Dawid Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Yasir Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani. Karachi Kings: James Vince, Shan Masood, Saad Baig, Mohammad Nawaz, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Hasan Ali, Tabraiz Shamsi, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir Khan.
PSL 9: Multan Sultans set 186-run target for Karachi Kings
