The match was played in Abu Dhabi
19 June, 2021
PHOTO COURTESY: PCB
Clinical Islamabad United registered a five-wicket victory over Multan Sultans on Saturday in HBL PSL 6.
Chasing a target of 150 runs, United promoted wicketkeeper Muhammad Akhlaq to the opening slot and he responded by scoring a quick-fire 26-run knock in 15 balls.
The wicketkeeper-batsman attacked Sohail Khan and Mohammad Umar in his brief knock, hitting both the pacers for a six and a boundary each.
Sultans introduced Shahnawaz Dahani into the attack in the fifth over and the move paid dividend straight away as he dismissed Akhlaq for 26, with Umar completing a fine low catch.
Shadab Khan also promoted himself to number three and hit Umar for 2 boundaries before hitting a maximum on the last ball of the powerplay.
Dahani can’t stop taking wickets as he also removed Umar Amin for 13 in his second over to give another breakthrough to Sultans.
Shadab battled humidity to keep United on track for chase. However, Umar got his revenge in his third over as he trapped Shadab lbw for 35.
While Hussain Talat continued to rotate strike, Asif Ali was in attacking mode and sprinted to 26 before being dismissed by Usman Qadir.
Talat scored a 34-run knock but was caught in the final over by Dahani, to leave United needing 3 from 4 balls.
It was Iftikhar Ahmed, who hit the winning runs to take United over the finish line.
Earlier, Islamabad United bowled out Multan Sultans for 149 despite Shan Masood’s 59-run knock.
After being asked to bat first, Sultans got an ideal start as Shan Masood continued his rich vein of form and attacked the pacers by playing conventional shots.
The left-hander took a particular liking to Mohammad Wasim Jr as he hit the pacer for three consecutive fours in his first three balls of the match.
Mohammad Rizwan played a perfect supporting role as Masood continued to accelerate. The opening pair brought up their fifty partnership in just five overs.
The introduction of spinners didn’t slow down Shan as he completed his fifty in just 33 balls by hitting Shadab Khan out of the park for a maximum.
However, Masood played one shot too many as an ugly hoick against Iftikhar Ahmed got a leading edge from the opener’s bat and he departed after scoring 59.
Sohaib Maqsood came in next and made his intentions clear by hitting Iftikhar for a six on his first ball.
Maqsood tried to take on Fawad Ahmed as well but was caught at cover by Shadab for 12. The dismissal of Maqsood brought a flurry of wickets as Rizwan and Riliee Rossouw were also caught while taking the aerial route in the space of next six balls.
Hammad Azam and Johnson Charles tried to build a partnership to resurrect Sultans’ inning but after accumulating 27 runs together, both departed on consecutive deliveries.
Sultans kept losing wickets at regular intervals towards the end with Wasim Jnr finishing with four wickets.
