Yasir, Ubaid lead Sultans to first win with 33-run victory over Qalandars

Yasir Khan struck a blistering half-century and Ubaid Shah starred with the ball as Multan Sultans sealed their first victory of the HBL Pakistan Super League season 10 with a 33-run win over Lahore Qalandars on Tuesday night.

Yasir smashed 87 off 44 balls while Iftikhar Ahmed added a rapid 40 not out off 18 deliveries to guide Sultans to a commanding total of 228-5 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Young pacer Ubaid Shah then claimed 3-37, removing Fakhar Zaman, Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings to help restrict Qalandars to 195-9 in their chase.

Fakhar got Lahore off to a quick start with a 14-ball 32, including three sixes and two fours. But spinner Michael Bracewell removed Mohammad Naeem (11) and later dismissed Abdullah Shafique (18), shifting momentum in Multan’s favor.

Ubaid removed Fakhar with a catch in the deep by Josh Little, and clean bowled Mitchell (19) to leave Qalandars at 87-4. Usama Mir added to Lahore’s woes by bowling Rishad Hossain for 2.

Sam Billings threatened a comeback with a fiery 43 off 23 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours. But his dismissal by Ubaid in the 15th over effectively ended Qalandars' hopes.

Usama Mir finished with 2-26 and Bracewell took 2-20, while David Willey and Josh Little wrapped up the innings by removing Asif Afridi and Haris Rauf respectively.

Earlier, Sultans’ openers gave their side a flying start, racing to 79 without loss in the powerplay. Mohammad Rizwan scored 32 off 17 before falling to Asif Afridi in the eighth over.

Yasir, who replaced Shai Hope in the lineup, powered to his fifty in just 28 balls and went on to hit six sixes and six fours in his 87. He shared an 89-run opening stand with Rizwan and a further 70-run partnership with Usman Khan.

Usman scored 39 off 24 balls before being caught off Rishad Hossain, who was the most successful Qalandars bowler with 2-45.

Shaheen Afridi (1-43), Asif Afridi (1-26), and Sikandar Raza (1-15) chipped in with a wicket each, but Haris Rauf proved expensive, leaking 54 runs in three overs.

Sultans added 61 runs in the final five overs, thanks to Iftikhar’s late flourish.

With the win, Sultans secured their first two points from four matches, while Qalandars suffered their second defeat but remain on four points