PSL 2024 (Final) – Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans
Islamabad United claimed their third PSL title on Monday night in Karachi. They beat the mighty Multan Sultans by 2 wickets in a final ball thriller that will surely be remembered for years to come. Imad Wasim emerged as United’s knight in shining armor, first scalping five key batsmen in the first innings and then chasing down the needed runs for Islamabad in the closing stages.
Having lost the toss, Islamabad United made the most of a bad situation, and with some luck sliced through the seemingly unstoppable Multan Sultan batting attack. Man of the match Imad Wasim was the first to strike, picking up two crucial wickets in just the second over of the contest. Wasim and skipper Shadab Khan kept pounding at the Sultans throughout the contest, sharing 8 wickets between the pair and restricting the opposition to a shocking 129 for 9 by the end of the 16th over. Had it not been for a last minute cameo from Ifthikar Ahmed, Multan would have not been able to put up any fight at all in the second innings.
Ifthikar Ahmed’s last minute roll of the dice set Islamabad a target of 160, one that would prove just the right amount to give the game a thrilling finish. Momentum constantly swung back and forth during the run chase, with top order batters contributing but middle orders failing to follow suit. By the 17th over, Islamabad looked almost out of the contest, needing a steep 31 runs with just 3 wickets in hand. Fortunately for United, Imad Wasim was still at the crease alongside tail ender Naseem Shah. Naseem’s plastered Chris Jordan and the Mohammad Ali for 17 runs in 9 rocks in the final two overs, leaving his brother Hunain just 1 run off the final ball. Hunain stepped up to the plate, with nerves of steel, and impetuous to the pressure he sliced the final delivery down to the boundary past third man and sealed the victory for Islamabad.
Chief Scores:
Multan Sultans – 159 for 9 in 20 overs (Usman Khan 57, Ifthikar Ahmed 32*, Mohammad Rizwan 26, Imad Wasim 5 for 23, Shadab Khan 3 for 32, Hunain Shah 0 for 17)
Islamabad United – 163 for 8 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 50, Azam Khan 30, Imad Wasim 19*, Ifthikar Ahmed 2 for 19, Kushdil Shah 2 for 21, David Willey 1 for 15)
