PSL 9: Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by 5 wickets

Multan Sultans defeated Islamabad United by five wickets in a nail-biting contest during the fifth match of the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) ninth edition played at Multan International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

After Sultans’ quicks Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi stopped United batsmen from scoring a big total, the Rizwan-led team chased the 145-run target in the last over after losing five wickets.

It is the second victory of Sultans as they beat Karachi Kings by 55 runs in the third match of the tournament, joining Quetta Gladiators as the only other team with two victories.

In the pursuit of 145 runs, Rizwan made a strong start after the dismissal of Dawid Malan (0). The 31-year-old scored a brisk 43 off 33 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes.

South Africa's Reeza Hendricks continued his impressive form, contributing a crucial 58-run innings off 46 balls.

Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed took charge of the chase, guiding the team to victory on the fifth ball of the 20th over. He made 17-ball 18* while Dawid Willey chipped in with seven runs off six balls.

Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, and Tymal Mills each took a wicket for Islamabad United.

Earlier, Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi impressed with three wickets each as they restricted Islamabad United to 144.

Agha Salman and Jordan Cox formed a resilient partnership, recovering from early setbacks to add 68 runs in 48 balls. Cox contributed significantly with 41 off 28 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes, before getting dismissed lbw by Usama Mir attempting a switch hit.

Salman top-scored with a steady innings of 52 off 43, featuring three boundaries and two sixes.

In the last over bowled by Mohammad Ali, the final three wickets fell, with Naseem Shah getting run out on the last ball, concluding Islamabad United’s innings at 144.

Afridi and Ali ended with bowling figures of 3-29 and 3-19, respectively, while Mir claimed two wickets.