Watch: Haris Rauf cleaned up David Miller with a fast yorker in the tournament opener of the PSL 2023, at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The Lahore Qalandars beat the Multan Sultans by a solitary run to take two points off their first match of the Pakistan Super League. Asked to bat by Mohammad Rizwan, the Qalandars got off to a rapid start thanks to Fakhar Zaman (66 in 42 balls) and Mirza Baig (32 in 26).
Ihsanullah (2-37) and Usama Mir (2-25) struck twice each for the Sultans, but the Qalandars still posted a formidable 175-6.
Shan Masood (35 in 31) and Rizwan (75 in 50) kept the asking rate under control. After 18 overs, the Sultans were 147-2. They needed 29 in 12 balls with eight wickets in hand, and David Miller and Kieron Pollard at the crease.
However, Shaheen Shah Afridi (4-0-27-1) had bowled himself out, and had to choose between Rauf (3-0-23-0) and someone else, presumably from Zaman Khan, Liam Dawson, David Wiese, Sikandar Raza, and Hussain Talat, all of whom bowled that night.
Shaheen backed Rauf, and Rauf responded with a yorker. Having eyed the gap on the leg side, Miller had shuffled across and positioned himself to place the ball somewhere between square leg and fine leg.
Unfortunately, the ball came at 144.3 kph, which meant that any shot across the line had to be timed to perfection. He missed the line completely, and the ball hit the base of leg stump. Miller walked back for a 20-ball 25.
Pollard hit a six and a four in the same over, leaving the Sultans to chase 15 off the 20th over. However, three wickets fell in the first four balls of the last over, bowled by Zaman. With 10 to score off two balls, all Khushdil Shah managed was two fours.
Watch Haris Rauf bowl David Miller here:
BULLSEYE!@HarisRauf14 gets the wicket of the dangerous @DavidMillerSA12 🎯#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/6mOp8kMylG
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 13, 2023