Islamabad United Clinches Victory Over Multan Sultans in PSL 10

MULTAN: Islamabad United secured a convincing seven-wicket victory against Multan Sultans in the 13th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to a focused bowling performance and an impressive unbeaten half-century by Andries Gous.

The visitors chased down a target of 169 runs with ease, losing just three wickets and with 17 balls remaining.

The three-time champions had a shaky start as their in-form opener, Sahibzada Farhan, was dismissed by Ubaid Shah in the third over with the score at 29. He managed 22 runs from 13 balls, including three fours and a six.

Gous was then partnered by the seasoned Colin Munro, and together they steered United into a dominant position, adding 81 runs for the second wicket before Munro was removed by Michael Bracewell in the 11th over.

Munro hit five boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 45 off 28 balls.

Gous, however, remained at the crease until the end, finishing unbeaten as United’s top scorer with 80 runs from 45 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes.

He also formed a 55-run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz, who contributed 21 runs from 19 balls.

For the Sultans, Chris Jordan, Ubaid, and Bracewell each claimed one wicket, while the other bowlers went wicketless.

After electing to bat, the home side began cautiously, with their in-form opening pair of skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan putting together 51 runs before Yasir was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz in the seventh over.

Yasir, who had scored a match-winning 87 against Lahore Qalandars at the same ground on Tuesday, could only manage 29 runs off 17 balls, including two fours and two sixes, against United.

Skipper Rizwan then added 65 runs for the second wicket with Usman until he was dismissed by his United counterpart, Shadab Khan.

Rizwan scored a careful 36 off 37 balls, hitting only three boundaries.

The Sultans then faced further setbacks as Michael Bracewell and Iftikhar Ahmed were dismissed after contributing modest scores.

Usman, on the other hand, saw his resilient innings end in disappointment as he was run out in the penultimate over.

He remained the highest scorer for the Sultans with 61 runs from 40 balls, consisting of four fours and four sixes.

Middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam provided a late surge to the Sultans’ total with a quickfire 13 runs from just six balls, including one four and a six.

For United, Shadab, Nawaz, Holder, and Riley Meredith each secured one wicket.