Multan Sultans out to extend PSL lead after euphoric homecoming success

Shan Masood's side went unbeaten across its first three fixtures on home turf, but a high-flying Karachi Kings side await as the competition moves on to Punjab's capital

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As the Pakistan Super League spreads its roots further across its home nation for its fifth edition, the story could hardly be more of a fairytale for Multan Sultans, its newest side.

The bitter disappointment of fifth-place finishes in 2018 and 2019 will now feel a distant, fading memory in South Punjab, which finally welcomed its side for three games last week – and witnessed three emphatic victories to send them to the top of the table with five more group games to play.

In Rilee Rossouw, the Sultans boast the league's second-highest scorer, and now the fastest century in its history; in Imran Tahir, its second-highest wicket-taker so far.

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An overseas contingent rounded out by World Cup winners James Vince and Moeen Ali have also shown glimpses of their best with bat in hand, while a wily old bowling unit has taken on a new life with the contributions of youngster Mohammad Ilyas lying at its core.

Friday's clash with Karachi Kings, however, poses a prime opportunity for the side to slip back to earth with a thud. Imad Wasim's squad had come out on top in each of their three meetings before this campaign, and they arrive in Lahore after plundering back-to-back wins in response to a second-innings slip-up in Multan one week ago. 

Monday's win over Islamabad United perfectly highlighted the Kings' strengths, with a target of 184 brushed aside in almost a nonchalant fashion as Wasim, Alex Hales and Sharjeel Khan chased it down with 10 to spare despite Babar Azam – the world's No.1 batsman in T20 international cricket – being run out in the first over before even getting himself on strike.

^{Kings batsman Babar Azam is the third-highest run-scorer in PSL history}

With a batsman of Babar's astonishing abilities, lightning will not strike twice – the following day, he carried his bat for an unbeaten 70 in another emphatic chase against Peshawar Zalmi, a side off to a rocky start but nevertheless an imposing force on the PSL, with appearances in its last three finals.

And Multan's batsmen will certainly be having nightmares about the Kings' bowling department, with attack spearheads Mohammad Amir and Chris Jordan on their day being among the very best short-format seamers on the planet.

Within just three balls of the Zalmi fixture, Amir had picked off the interminably destructive duo of Tom Banton and Haider Ali with devilish inswing, and he sits now just three scalps shy of becoming the ninth Pakistani bowler to tally 200 wickets in T20 action.

At the group's half-way stage, things seem to be going to according to plan for his Karachi side – now coached by two-time PSL champion boss Dean Jones – as they sit just two points off the top of the table. With a plate of delicious revenge on the cards now the sides reconvene in neutral territory, Friday night fireworks are surely a guarantee.