KARACHI: In Pakistan Super League 9, Islamabad United defeat Multan Sultan after a sensational contest by two wickets.
Islamabad United defeated Multan Sultans by two wickets in the match played at National Stadium Karachi. Batting first, Multan Sultans scored 169 runs for nine wickets in the allotted overs. Islamabad United achieved the target of 160 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
Chasing the target, Islamabad United had a flying start to the pursuit as their new opening pair of Colin Munro and Martin Guptill scored 20 of the first two overs.
But the duo failed to continue the flying start as Munro fell victim to Khushdil Shah on the first delivery of the fourth over. He made 17 off 13 with the help of four boundaries. The United then lost two more wickets in quick succession as Salman Ali Agha (10) and Shadab Khan (4) perished after scoring cheaply.
But Guptill remained firm and kept the scoreboard ticking in a crucial fourth-wicket partnership with Azam Khan before a mix-up drew curtains on his tremendous knock. He remained the top-scorer for the United with a 32-ball 50, peppered with four boundaries and three sixes.
Azam then partnered with Imad Wasim for a brief 19-run partnership, which lasted in the 16th over, courtesy of a brilliant DRS by Mohammad Rizwan off Usama Mir,He smashed four boundaries and a six on his way to a 22-ball 30.
The United then sustained another massive blow to their pursuit as in-form Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf walked back in consecutive overs, bringing the equation down to 129/7, The two-time champions then needed 31 off 17 deliveries with Imad and Naseem Shah at the crease.
The duo batted sensibly and brought the United in touching distance before Mohammad Ali dismissed Naseem Shah with a bumper on the penultimate delivery.
Islamabad United needed one run off the final delivery with Hunain Shah on the strike. The No.10 batter sensibly guided the ball towards the third-man region to steer his team over the line.
