Abbas Afridi Bags 1st Hat-Trick in PSL 2023
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) never ceases to amaze cricket fans with its breathtaking performances and nail-biting finishes. The recent match between Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators was no exception, as it saw a stunning hat-trick by Multan Sultans’ Abbas Afridi, who claimed five wickets overall, securing a win for his team.
Abbas Afridi, the nephew of ex-Pakistan pacer Umar Gul, scored his hat trick against the team whose bowling coach is none other than his uncle Umar Gul.
As a player, Afridi is a Pakistani cricketer who plays for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
How the Multan Sultans Performed in the Match
The match started with Multan Sultans setting a massive target of 262 runs, thanks to the brilliant partnership between Usman Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, who scored a massive 157-run partnership in just ten overs.
While Usman departed after scoring an incredible 120 off 43 balls, Rizwan remained unbeaten on 55 off 29 deliveries. Tim David played a blistering cameo of 43 off 25 balls, adding to the total.
It was a daunting target for Quetta Gladiators, but they started their chase with a bang. Omeir Yousuf and Iftikhar Ahmed played well and made things difficult for the Multan Sultans. However, the game changed in the 17th over when Abbas Afridi initiated a hat-trick, dismissing Mohammad Nawaz and Umaid Asif in consecutive deliveries, and followed it up by getting rid of the in-form batter Umar Akmal in the first ball of the 19th over.
With Quetta’s middle order collapsing under Afridi’s spell, they fell short of the target by just nine runs. Iftikhar Ahmed scored a fighting 53, while Omeir Yousuf smashed 67 off 36 balls.
However, the other batters failed to put up a fight against Abbas Afridi, who finished the game with five wickets to his name. Ihsanullah claimed two wickets, and Anwar Ali took one.
Results of the Match
Abbas Afridi was rightly awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. With this victory, Multan Sultans now sit at the second spot on the PSL table with 12 points in ten matches, trailing behind only Lahore Qalandars. Quetta Gladiators, on the other hand, have been pushed to the bottom of the table with three victories in the tournament.
The 2023 Pakistan Super League, also known as PSL 8 or HBL PSL 2023, is the ongoing eighth season of the franchise Twenty20 cricket league established by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2015. The tournament began on February 13th, 2023.
As the tournament enters its final phase, the fans are eagerly waiting for the playoffs. The PSL 2023 playoffs will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The qualifiers are scheduled for March 15, followed by Eliminator 1 on March 16, Eliminator 2 on March 17, and the final on March 19.
In conclusion, the recent match between Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators was a thrilling encounter, with Abbas Afridi’s hat trick stealing the show. With the playoffs just around the corner, the teams will be giving their all to secure a spot in the finals.
