Jason Holder’s all-round performance guided defending champions Islamabad United to a dominant 47-run win over Multan Sultans, clinching their third consecutive victory in the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 202, Multan were bowled out for 155, with Holder starring with the ball, taking four wickets to ensure United’s triumph.
Sultans Struggle in Chase
Multan’s chase got off to a solid start with captain Mohammad Rizwan’s quickfire 38, but they were unable to maintain momentum as regular wickets fell, hampering their progress at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Rizwan, who hit three fours and a six during his 27-ball innings, provided early stability before being dismissed by Islamabad captain Shadab Khan, caught by Muhammad Shahzad.
Opener Shai Hope was dismissed for a solitary run after being caught off Naseem Shah’s bowling in the second over. Usman Khan showed promise with a 20-ball 31 but fell just as he was looking dangerous, caught off Meredith’s delivery from Imad Wasim.
Kamran Ghulam (17 off 13) and Michael Bracewell (16 off 10) added brief cameos but couldn’t capitalize on their starts. The middle order crumbled under pressure as wickets continued to tumble, with Islamabad tightening the noose with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
Iftikhar Ahmed fought back with a measured 32 off 26 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes, but the lower order offered little support. David Willey, Chris Jordan, and Usama Mir were dismissed cheaply, causing the chase to lose all momentum.
Holder Dominates with the Ball
Jason Holder’s outstanding bowling performance was key to Islamabad’s success, as he claimed 4 wickets for just 25 runs in his four-over spell. His two crucial wickets in the 18th over effectively sealed the match for United. Imad Wasim provided valuable support, finishing with figures of 2-22, while Shadab Khan and Muhammad Shahzad each picked up a wicket.
Despite their explosive batting lineup, Multan were bowled out for 155 in 19.4 overs, falling short by 47 runs. This defeat marked their second loss of the season, while Islamabad celebrated their third consecutive win, strengthening their position in the top half of the PSL standings.
United Post Challenging Total
Earlier, Islamabad United set a target of 202/6 after a delayed start due to a wet outfield. The delay pushed back the start by 45 minutes, but Islamabad’s batsmen quickly made up for lost time.
Farhan anchored the innings with a composed 53 off 35 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Usama Mir. Colin Munro provided the explosive push with a quick 48 off 25 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, before falling to Ubaid Shah.
Andries Gous contributed 9 off 10 balls, while captain Shadab Khan added 14 from 11 deliveries. Azam Khan struggled with just 4 off 8 balls before both he and Shadab were dismissed by Chris Jordan.
At 136 for 5, Islamabad’s innings looked to be slowing down, but a late flurry from Haider Ali and Jason Holder changed the game. The pair put on 47 runs in just three overs, with Haider scoring 33 off 16 balls and Holder finishing unbeaten on 32 off 14, guiding United to a total of 202/6.
