LAHORE: Islamabad United has finally qualified for playoffs despite a big loss against Multan Sultans in the 29th match of the ongoing seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
United, like Quetta Gladiators, who won earlier against Karachi Kings, finish with four wins in ten, but had the cushion of a vastly superior net run rate to sneak through to the eliminator.
Mohammad Rizwan scored a gritty half-century to help Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by six wickets. Set to chase a paltry 106, the table-toppers have had an unwanted start as the side lost four wickets for a mere 43.
Rizwan alongside David Willey, however, then anchored the run chase with an unbeaten 68-runs partnership. Willey played a sensible knock of 28 runs off 32 balls, while Rizwan top-scored with his magnificent 51 off 42 deliveries.
For the United, Liam Dawson provided a glimmer of hope; taking three quick wickets, while Zahid Mahmood picked up a wicket on his debut for the United.
After opting to bat first, the United batters could only manage to post 105/7 in the allotted 20 overs. United’s openers Nasir Nawaz and Mohammad Huraira failed to provide a delightful start to their side as Asif Afridi managed to break the opening pair in the third over and Huraira departed after scoring a mere two.
Following his departure, the side kept losing wickets at an alarming rate and went a little too defensive in the proceedings. None of the United batters could contribute significantly to pull their side out of the danger.
English batter Dawson chipped in a bit with his brief cameo of 22 runs off just 11 balls, while Mohammad Musa, down the order, top-scored for the side with an unbeaten 26 off 21 deliveries; smashing two boundaries and as many sixes.
For the Sultans, Asif and Imran Tahir bagged two wickets each, while Willey, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Tim David struck out a batter each.
Playing XIs:
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c, wk), Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Amir Azmat, Asif Afridi, Imran Tahir, David Willey, Shahnawaz Dahani, Rumman Raees
Islamabad United: Nasir Nawaz, Muhammad Huraira, Liam Dawson, Asif Ali (c), Azam Khan (wk), Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Merchant de Lange, Athar Mahmood, Zahid Mahmood, Muhammad Musa
