In a nail-biting encounter at Rawalpindi, Islamabad United emerged victorious against Multan Sultans by securing a thrilling three-wicket win in one of the high-scoring spectacles of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9. The match, held on a Sunday, witnessed the United successfully chasing down a formidable target of 229 on the last ball of the inning, solidifying their place as the third team to qualify for the playoffs.
The United’s pursuit was anchored by an impressive performance from Colin Munro, who smashed 84 off 40 balls, and the skipper, Shadab Khan, contributing a vital 54 off 31 deliveries. Imad Wasim’s unbeaten 30 off 13 balls proved crucial in finishing the game for the United.
Batting first, Multan Sultans, under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, posted a challenging total of 228, thanks to Usman Khan’s explosive unbeaten century. Usman Khan reached his second century of the PSL in just 50 balls, showcasing his prowess with 15 fours and three sixes.
United’s skipper Shadab Khan won the toss and opted to bowl first against Sultans in this must-win game. The United, with four wins in their last nine games and one match washed out, currently holds the third position in the table with nine points.
On the other hand, the Muhammad Rizwan-led Sultans have already secured a playoff spot with six wins in their last eight games. They faced defeat twice against Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi, who have also qualified for the next stage of the ongoing PSL.
Here are the playing XIs for both teams:
Multan Sultans Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (c), Johnson Charles, Yasir Khan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali.
Islamabad United Playing XI: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hunain Shah, Naseem Shah, Tymal Mills.
