Islamabad United continued their dominant form in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, securing a convincing seven-wicket win over Multan Sultans to maintain their unbeaten streak. A blistering, unbeaten 80* from Andries Gous anchored United’s successful chase of 169, extending their winning run to five matches.
Sultans Stumble Despite Strong Start
Opting to bat first, Multan Sultans started brightly, racing to 48 without loss during the powerplay on a sluggish surface. However, once the fielding restrictions eased, United’s spinners tightened the screws with their clever variations.
- Mohammad Nawaz broke the opening partnership by dismissing Yasir Khan at long-on.
- Usman Khan carried the innings with an aggressive 61 off 39 balls, bringing up his half-century in just 29 deliveries.
- Skipper Mohammad Rizwan struggled to find fluency, eventually falling to Shadab Khan with a soft dismissal to cover.
- Wickets continued to tumble as Michael Bracewell miscued a pull off Riley Meredith, while Iftikhar Ahmed gloved a sharp Jason Holder delivery to the keeper.
A late cameo from Kamran Ghulam provided some impetus, but Sultans could only muster 168 for 5, falling short of setting a truly competitive total. Islamabad’s spinners were pivotal, keeping the scoring in check and applying relentless pressure throughout the middle overs.
Gous and Munro Power United’s Chase
Chasing 169 under the influence of evening dew, Sahibzada Farhan maintained his rich vein of form with a quickfire 22 off 13 before falling to a well-directed short ball from Ubaid Shah.
From there, it was the Gous show. The in-form batter found an able partner in Colin Munro as the duo stitched together a crucial 81-run stand off 48 deliveries. However, tensions flared in the 10th over when Munro and Iftikhar Ahmed exchanged words, prompting umpires to intervene in a brief but heated moment. Munro’s aggressive knock ended soon after as he found Iftikhar at long-on.
Unfazed, Gous continued to dominate alongside Mohammad Nawaz, who contributed a handy cameo in their 55-run partnership off 39 balls. Gous’ chanceless innings saw him grow in confidence as he expertly navigated United to victory with an over to spare.
Sultans’ Bowling Falters Under Pressure
Multan’s bowlers struggled to make inroads:
- Josh Little failed to provide early breakthroughs.
- Usama Mir was wayward, conceding 41 runs in his four overs.
- Chris Jordan proved ineffective, leaking 24 runs in just two overs.
In contrast, Islamabad United’s disciplined bowling effort laid the foundation for their comprehensive win, keeping Multan’s batters in check and ensuring a manageable chase.
United on Top, Sultans Under Pressure
With this victory, Islamabad United solidify their position at the top of the PSL 2025 standings, firing on all cylinders as they extend their unbeaten run. Meanwhile, Multan Sultans find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table, with mounting pressure to turn their campaign around before it’s too late.