Shahid Afridi rolls back the years as Multan Sultans register first win

Fans were treated to a vintage Afridi display, where he mixed up his leg-breaks with googlies and seam-ups to pick up two Islamabad wickets and restrict the defending champions to a measly 125/7 in 20 overs.

In reply, Multan found themselves in a muddle at 75/4 in the 15th over but a calm 29-ball 31 by captain Shoaib Malik and two consecutive sixes in the penultimate over by Afridi got Multan home with eight balls to spare.

Andre Russell's seven-ball 16 was also vital to Multan's success. The big Windies all-rounder hit two fours and a six during his short stay at the crease.

Earlier, Afridi was aided by the Player of the Match Ali Shafiq (2/11) and Junaid Khan (2/33) as only one Islamabad batsman – Luke Ronchi scored 51 at the top of the order – converted his start into a big score.

Afridi dismissed Ronchi and also accounted for Philip Salt, and at one stage, Islamabad were 96/7 before a couple of 20s by Samit Patel and Faheem Ashraf took the team to a respectable total on a slow pitch.

Even as Shadab Khan picked up 2/20 to bring Islamabad back in the match, Afridi's two sixes off Waqas Maqsood – the first a heave over extra cover by clearing his front leg and then a smash over long-on – sealed the deal, with Multan needed 14 from the last two overs.

Multan now have one win from two matches and are placed third on the table with two points while Islamabad follow them closely on fourth spot, with as many points.