Islamabad United (IU) demonstrated their supremacy in Match 7 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, as they beat Multan Sultans (MS) by 47 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The rain-delayed match witnessed Multan Sultans' captain Mohammad Rizwan winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. But that move soon backfired as Islamabad United put up a formidable total of 202/6 in 20 overs.
The top order of IU fired collectively. Sahibzada Farhan led the charge with a solid 53, followed by Colin Munro's quickfire 48 and Haider Ali’s impactful 33. But the real momentum shift came courtesy of Jason Holder, who blasted the fastest 32 runs of the innings. Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, and Andre Goss chipped in, taking their side to a match-winning total.
In response, Multan Sultans started well, scoring 62 runs in the powerplay, with Rizwan steady at one end. However, Islamabad’s bowlers turned the game during the middle overs. Holder, who was the standout performer with the ball as well, claimed 4 wickets for 25 runs, while Imad Wasim grabbed 2/33 and Naseem Shah bowled a game-changing over, conceding just one run and building pressure.
The Sultans, from a strong beginning, faltered to 155 all out in 18.4 overs, with only late resistance by Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored a hard-earned 32 off 26 balls. Other such crucial players as Michael Bracewell, Chris Jordan, and Usman Khan also were unable to translate their beginnings into substantial contributions.
Shadab Khan's astute captaincy, complemented by astute fielding and bowling substitutions, was crucial in the thorough victory. Through this win, Islamabad United topped the points table with 4 points, extending their unbeaten streak. On the other hand, the Multan Sultans are still winless in PSL 2025.
This match was a classic example of why first-batting sides have a 59% winning ratio at Rawalpindi, where big scores are usually defended. The average score here continues to be 201, with the fast bowlers claiming 65% of the wickets.
Not only did this match thrill with 430 runs combined, but it also provided supporters with memories—from fierce spells by Holder and Imad to explosive hitting by Farhan and Munro.
With players like Alex Hales, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Matthew Forde, Tymal Mills, Hunain Shah, and Dawid Malan yet to feature prominently, IU looks even more threatening in upcoming fixtures.
Multan Sultans will need a serious regroup before they face stiffer challenges in Lahore, Multan, Karachi, and back in Rawalpindi.
