New Zealand cricketer Colin Munro on Wednesday has sparked a heated debate in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Munro, who is playing for Islamabad United has accused Multan Sultans‘ all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed for chucking.
The drama unfolded in the 10th over of the match, when they were cruising to the target of 169 set by the Multan Sultans.
Off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed bowled a faster one in the blockhole and Munro somehow managed to dug it out. Just after the delivery, Munro gestured at the Iftikhar that he was chucking. Munro even bent his elbow while mimicking the action.
Munro’s gesture riled up the bowler Iftikhar Ahmed, who waked straight to one of the umpires to have a word with them. The entire Multan Sultan team also got involved. The umpires managed to diffuse the situation.
Despite all this drama, defending champions Islamabad United continued their winning streak with a fifth consecutive win. Islamabad United chased the 169-run target set by Sultans with 17 balls to spare, banking on opening batter Andries Gous’ 80 not out inclusive of six fours and five maximums.
Gous, who faced 45 balls to register his maiden HBL PSL half-century, lost his opening partner Sahibzada Farhan in the third over after the duo had put on 29 runs in pursuit of the target. No.3 batter Colin Munro walked in all guns blazing as he stitched a fiery 81-run partnership for the second wicket off 48 balls.
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Munro contributed a 28-ball 45 to the cause hitting five fours and two sixes. After Michael Bracewell removed Munro in 11th over, Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 19b, 1×4, 1×6) and Gous steered their team closer to the target with a 55-run third-wicket stand.
Earlier, Multan Sultans elected to bat first after winning the toss and their opening batters Mohammad Rizwan (36 off 37b, 3x4s) and Yasir Khan (29 off 17b, 2x4s, 2x6s) put on a solid 51-run stand off 6.4 overs.
After Mohammad Nawaz drew the first blood for United dismissing Yasir, Usman Khan walked in and hit the ground running with a 29-ball half-century. Shadab Khan broke Rizwan and Usman’s 65-run stand in 14th over with 116 runs on the board.
Islamabad United bowlers kept a check on the run flow as they gave away only 42 runs in the last five overs dismissing Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed and Sultans’ top-scorer Usman (61 off 40b, 4x4s, 4x6s). Kamran Ghulam capped off the Sultans innings with a six and a four in his unbeaten six-ball 10.
Brief Scores
Multan Sultans: 168 for 5 in 20 overs (Usman Khan 61, Mohammad Rizwan 36, Yasir Khan 29; Mohammad Nawaz 1-13)
Islamabad United: 171 for 3 in 17.1 overs (Andries Gous 80 not out, Colin Munro 45, Sahibzada Farhan 22, Mohammad Nawaz 21; Chris Jordan 1-24)
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