A dazzling century from Australian champion Steve Smith went in vain as the Multan Sultans suffered a tense four-wicket loss to the Hyderabad Kingsmen in Karachi on Wednesday.
The New South Welshman clobbered a 47-ball century, his sixth T20 hundred, combining with opening partner Sahibzada Farhan for a 132-run partnership after Hyderabad won the chose and chose to field first.
Smith’s 50-ball 106, which featured 12 boundaries and six sixes, steered Multan towards an imposing 7-213, coming a day after he cracked a 27-ball fifty against Rawalpindiz at the same venue.
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Having controversially missed selection for Australia’s recent T20 World Cup campaign in the subcontinent, Smith is looking to press his case for a recall for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, hoping to add an Olympic medal to his overflowing trophy cabinet.
The Sultans neglected to review a caught-behind decision on Usman Khan’s first delivery during the run chase, which proved a costly blunder as the Kingsmen wicketkeeper plundered a 44-ball century, including ten sixes, following the early reprieve.
The Pakistan gloveman combined with captain Marnus Labuschagne for a 123-run partnership for the fourth wicket to put Hyderabad within touching distance of the 214-run target before veteran Australian seamer Peter Siddle (3-39 from four overs) snared three quick scalps to set up a thrilling finish.
Labuschagne (61 from 41 balls), Khan (101 from 47 balls) and superstar Glenn Maxwell each departed during the brief collapse of 3-11, with the Kingsmen at one stage needing 32 runs from the final 13 deliveries for victory.
However, all-rounder Hassan Khan smacked an unbeaten 24 from six balls during the death overs to get Hyderabad over the line with three balls to spare.
Steven Smith. Photo by Murtaza Ali/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“I don’t have too many words for that,” Labuschagne said after the match.
“That whole game was pretty special. We saw two special hundreds, firstly from Steve; that was a captain’s nightmare.
“Then for Usman to come out, especially with the tournament he’s had, which hasn’t been perfect, and play with that confidence and clarity was just special.
“He sort of said, ‘I think I need a couple of games off.’ And I said, ‘You aren’t getting a couple of games off, mate. I know how good you are.‘”