Islamabad United delivered a commanding performance to defeat Multan Sultans by seven wickets in the 13th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10. The match was played at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, where United chased down a 169-run target with ease, finishing the job with 17 balls to spare.
This win was fueled by a sensational unbeaten knock from Andries Gous, who remained rock solid throughout the innings and ensured United stayed ahead in the chase from start to finish.
A Blistering Chase Led by Gous
Islamabad United’s chase started aggressively as Sahibzada Farhan and Andries Gous added 29 runs in quick time. Farhan, who looked in good touch, was dismissed in the third over by Ubaid Shah after scoring 22 off 13 balls, which included three boundaries and a six.
After Farhan’s departure, Gous teamed up with Colin Munro and the duo built a match-defining 81-run partnership. Munro was the aggressor in the partnership, smashing 45 runs off just 28 balls with five fours and two sixes before falling to Michael Bracewell in the 11th over.
Gous, meanwhile, stood tall and played a remarkable anchor role. He finished the innings unbeaten on 80 off 45 balls, laced with six fours and five massive sixes. His clean striking and composure ensured Islamabad’s chase never looked in doubt. He also added 55 runs with Mohammad Nawaz, who chipped in with a handy 21 from 19 deliveries.
Sultans’ Efforts with the Ball
Multan Sultans struggled to contain the flow of runs as only three of their bowlers — Chris Jordan, Ubaid Shah, and Michael Bracewell — managed to pick up a wicket each. The rest of the bowling attack failed to make an impact as Islamabad’s batters maintained complete control.
Multan’s Inning: A Promising Start, but No Big Finish
Earlier, Multan Sultans opted to bat first and got off to a solid start through their opening pair. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan shared a 51-run partnership for the first wicket. Yasir, who had been the hero in the previous match, could only score 29 off 17 balls this time before being dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz.
Rizwan then partnered with Usman Khan to add 65 runs for the second wicket. However, the United skipper Shadab Khan removed Rizwan, who played a slow knock of 36 off 37 balls, striking just three boundaries.
After Rizwan’s dismissal, Multan’s innings lost momentum. Michael Bracewell and Iftikhar Ahmed couldn’t offer much resistance and fell cheaply. Usman Khan tried to hold the innings together with a solid 61 off 40 balls, featuring four fours and four sixes. Unfortunately, his innings ended in the penultimate over via a run-out, which came at a crucial moment when Multan needed a final push.
Kamran Ghulam added a brief spark at the end with 13 runs off six deliveries, including a four and a six, helping the Sultans reach 168/7 in their 20 overs.
United Bowlers Step Up
Islamabad United’s bowling unit was effective throughout the innings. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan kept things tight in the middle overs and picked up important wickets. Jason Holder and Riley Meredith also bagged one wicket each, contributing to a balanced attack that restricted Multan from reaching a more threatening total.
Match Summary
Multan Sultans: 168/7 in 20 overs
- Usman Khan 61 (40), Mohammad Rizwan 36 (37)
- Shadab Khan 1/26, Mohammad Nawaz 1/22
Islamabad United: 172/3 in 17.1 overs
- Andries Gous 80* (45), Colin Munro 45 (28)
- Michael Bracewell 1/29, Ubaid Shah 1/25, Chris Jordan 1/33
Playing XIs
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
Islamabad United’s dominant victory not only boosts their confidence but also strengthens their position on the PSL 10 points table. With Gous and Munro firing at the top and bowlers performing under pressure, United look like serious contenders for the title this season.
