Multan (Web Desk): Islamabad United defeated Multan Sultans by seven wickets in the 13th match of the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The victory came with 17 balls to spare, as United chased down a target of 169 runs with calm precision.
Put in to chase, Islamabad had an early hiccup when Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed in the third over by Ubaid Shah after a brisk start.
Farhan looked threatening during his short stay, smashing 22 off just 13 balls, including three boundaries and a six, before falling with the score at 29.
The early setback, however, didn’t unsettle the visitors. Jordan Cox took charge and was soon joined by Colin Munro, and together the pair built a formidable partnership that put the pressure back on the home side.
Munro played the aggressor in the 81-run stand, hammering 45 off 28 deliveries with five fours and two maximums before Michael Bracewell managed to break the partnership in the 11th over.
Cox, on the other hand, was the anchor of the chase, pacing his innings expertly and ensuring there were no late dramas. He stayed unbeaten till the end, compiling a match-winning knock of 80 from 45 deliveries.
His innings included six boundaries and five towering sixes. He was well-supported by Mohammad Nawaz, who added 21 runs from 19 balls as the two added a further 55 runs to finish the chase comfortably.
Earlier, Multan Sultans opted to bat first and began steadily. Their opening duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan put on 51 runs before Nawaz provided the breakthrough in the seventh over.
Yasir, who had delivered a match-winning performance against Lahore Qalandars just the night before, couldn’t replicate the heroics and fell for 29 off 17 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes.
Skipper Rizwan batted cautiously, adding a further 65 runs in partnership with Usman Khan. However, his subdued knock of 36 from 37 balls came to an end at the hands of his opposite number, Shadab Khan.
Multan’s innings struggled for momentum thereafter, with Bracewell and Iftikhar Ahmed contributing modestly before departing.
Usman Khan stood out as the most fluent batter for the hosts, scoring 61 from 40 balls, featuring four fours and four sixes, before being run out in the 19th over.
A brief cameo from Kamran Ghulam, who hit 13 off six balls with a four and a six, gave the innings a slight boost, helping the Sultans finish on 168 for 8.
In a disciplined bowling effort, Islamabad shared the wickets evenly among Shadab, Nawaz, Jason Holder, and Riley Meredith.
Each picked up a wicket to restrict Multan from posting a more imposing total. For the home side, Jordan, Ubaid Shah, and Bracewell took one wicket each but failed to stop United’s batters from dictating terms.
The result marked a strong statement from the three-time champions Islamabad United, who outclassed the table-topping Sultans with both bat and ball.
Teams
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Yasir Khan, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Usama Mir, Josh Little, Ubaid Shah
Islamabad United: Andries Gous (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Imad Wasim, Saad Masood, Riley Meredith, Salman Irshad