Islamabad United suffered their first defeat in six matches as Multan Sultans powered their way in to the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The two-time champions failed to chase Multan Sultan’s target of 180. Defending 180/5 in the qualifier, the Mohammad Rizwan-led outfit dismissed United to 149 in 19 overs.
Islamabad United will now face Peshawar Zalmi in eliminator two match to qualify final.
Sohail Tanvir, who still has the second-best bowling figures in the Indian Premier League, rocked United top-order with two early wickets — removing Colin Munro with the second ball of the innings and captain Shadab Khan in the third over.
Tanvir, 36, returned with figures of 3/17 from his four overs. Another veteran bowler, Imran Tahir claimed two for 29.
League’s leading wicket-taker, 22-year-old pacer Shahnawaz Dhani failed to take a wicket, but Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani and Pakistan Test bowler Imran Khan got three and one scalps respectively.
Aussie Usman Khawaja kept the chase alive after United lost the top four inside the first ten overs. He was eventually dismissed by Tanvir just when he was threatening to take the game away from Multan. He made 40-ball 70.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first. But the Sultans skipper didn’t last long, getting out in the second over for a three-ball duck as Akif Javed gave United a dream start.
Shan Masood (25 off 22) and Sohaib Maqsood (59 off 41) added 53 runs in 35 balls to steady the Sultans innings. It was followed by two stands of prominence, 63 off 40 by Maqsood and Johnson Charles (41 off 21) for the fourth wicket and unbroken 43 off 20 by Khushdil Shah (42 off 22) and Sohail Tanvir (12 off nine).
Sultans scored 35 runs in the last two overs, with the penultimate producing 29 runs as Khushdil hit Akif Javed’s last four balls for sixes after Tanvir hit the first ball for a four.
In the league phase, United defeated Sultans in both leagues matches
Playing XI
Multan Sultans
Mohammad Rizwan (captain, wk), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Johnson Charles, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Blessing Muzarabani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani
Islamabad United
Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Shadab Khan (captain), Hussain Talat, Ifthikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Hassan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Waseem, Akif Javed
