Following an action-packed and glamorous curtain raiser to unfold this season's fascinating cricket encounters, the first match of PSL 2018 between defending champions Peshawar Zalmi and newcomers Multan Sultans has started in Dubai.

Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal finally arrived on Thursday after facing some visa-related issues. He was included in the Peshawar Zalmi’s starting XI. However, another Bangladesh batsman – Sabbir Rahman did not make it to the for the Peshawar-based franchise's playing XI.

Zamli were sent to bat first following the toss. Tamim was given out and survived the first blow taking a review in the very second over, as that certainly was a wide delivery and did not have any contact with the batsman's gloves. On the other hand, Kamran Akmal gave his wicket away for a duck in the same over before his team could settle things down a little bit in front of the Multan bowling attack.

Tamim also left the pitch on 11 runs trying to hit Mohammad Irfan but got out as Junaid Khan took a diving catch. Dwayne Smith was out by Imran Tahir scoring 24 runs. A while after his exit, Viljoen scalped Haris Sohail's wicket as the batsman could not manage to score more than 14 runs.

Mohammad Hafeez played a crucial innings while picking up his half-century. He was dismissed by Junaid Khan scoring 59 runs. Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy's cameo of 29 off 11, lifted the total past 150 runs. Sohail Tanvir bagged his wicket in the second-last ball of the innings.

Multan Sultans are not facing much difficulties chasing down the target of 152 runs. After opener Ahmed Shehzad got out for a duck, Kumar Sangakkara along with Shoaib Maqsood restored Multan's innings.

Shoaib returned to the pavilion scoring 21 runs as Mohammad Asghar picked up his wicket. Sangakkara has clubbed a well-deserved fifty and is still going strong alongside Shoaib Malik who is batting on 19 runs.

Score:

Peshawar Zalmi - 151/6 (20 overs)

Multan Sultans - 104/2 (14 overs)

Toss: Multan Sultans won the toss and opt to bowl