The Pakistan Super League got off to a rocky start on Monday evening, with the T20 tournament’s season opener at Multan Cricket Stadium delayed by 30 minutes after one of the venue’s floodlights caught fire.
The Lahore Qalandars clinched a thrilling one-run victory over the Multan Sultans, but not before the fire brigade was called in to douse the flames, hosing down the light tower in worrying scenes ahead of the toss.
According to local reports, the fire was caused by fireworks during the competition’s opening ceremony. Thankfully, it appears nobody was harmed during the ordeal.
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Lahore paceman Zaman Khan successfully defended 15 runs in the final over, ensuring Multan fell agonisingly short of the 176-run target despite an entertaining knock of 75 (50) from captain Mohammad Rizwan.
The Sultans won the toss and elected to field first, with the Qalandars registering 6-175 from their 20 overs after opener Fakhar Zaman plundered 66 (42), including five sixes.
Rizwan and Shan Masood combined for a 100-run opening partnership to get the run chase off to a promising start, but Multan’s middle order couldn’t finish the job, with three wickets falling in dramatic final over. Pakistan superstar Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the Lahore bowlers with figures of 1-27 from four overs.
Multan will next face the Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday evening, while Lahore takes on the Karachi Kings on Sunday.
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