Imad Wasim’s all-around performance helped Islamabad United win the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title after five years by defeating Multan Sultans in the ninth edition final at National Bank Stadium on Monday.
Islamabad United started their campaign for their third PSL title with 20 off the first two overs from their new opening pair of Colin Munro and Martin Guptill.
Munro fell to Khushdil Shah on the first delivery of the fourth over, ending the duo’s hot start. Four boundaries helped him score 17 out of 13.
The United lost two more wickets quickly, as Salman Ali Agha (10) and Shadab Khan (4) scored cheaply.
In a crucial fourth-wicket stand with Azam Khan, Guptill kept the scoreboard ticking until a mix-up ended his incredible innings.
He scored a 32-ball 50 with four boundaries and three sixes to stay United’s top scorer.
Azam and Imad Wasim had a quick 19-run partnership in the 16th over thanks to Mohammad Rizwan’s excellent DRS off Usama Mir.
With four boundaries and a six, he scored 22 from 30 balls.
In-form Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf returned in consecutive overs, reducing the United’s lead to 129/7.
The two-time champions required 31 off 17 deliveries, with Imad and Naseem Shah at the crease.
The pair batted sensibly and pulled the United within touching distance when Mohammad Ali bowled Naseem Shah on the penultimate delivery.
Islamabad United needed one run from the last delivery, with Hunain Shah on strike. The No. 10 batter smartly guided the ball to the third-man to score.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah took two wickets each for the Sultans, while Usama Mir, Mohammad Ali, and David Willey dismissed one batter each.
Despite Usman Khan’s half-century and Iftikhar Ahmed’s late onslaught, the Multan Sultans’ PSL 9 final total was poor after batting first.
Yasir Khan (6) was bowled by Imad Wasim in the second over, a poor start for the Sultans.
Vice-captain David Willey (6), promoted to bat at No. 3, fell to Imad after hitting him for a six.
Usman Khan joined his skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, in the middle after the collapse and started recovering.
Rizwan scored a run-a-ball 26 before being bowled by United’s Shadab Khan in the 10th over.
Usman then led the Sultans’ batting assault and briefly partnered with Johnson, Charles and Khushdil Shah before dying in the 16th over.
He scored a courageous 57 off 40 deliveries with seven boundaries and a six to lead the Sultans.
His ejection precipitated a lower middle-order collapse, triggered by Imad Wasim’s superb last over, who returned with 5/22 in four overs.
After 17 overs, the Sultans were 127/9 until Iftikhar Ahmed counterattacked.
The right-handed hitter scored 32 runs off 20 deliveries with three boundaries and sixes.
In addition to Imad, United skipper Shadab took three wickets for 32 runs in four overs.
