Islamabad United Clinches Thrilling PSL 9 Title with Last-Ball Boundary Heroics
Islamabad United etched their name in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history once again, securing a dramatic two-wicket victory over Multan Sultans in a nail-biting final on Monday. The match went down to the wire, with tailender Hunain Shah steering the final delivery through point for a boundary to seal the win for Islamabad.
Dominant Wasim Powers Islamabad United to Victory
Islamabad’s triumph was largely orchestrated by all-rounder Imad Wasim’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament. He continued his stellar form in the final, ripping through Multan’s top order with a five-wicket haul for just 23 runs.
His crucial 19 not-out with the bat also proved vital in the chase. Captain Shadab Khan, named Player of the League for his all-around contributions, chipped in with three wickets and expressed his delight at the team’s fighting spirit.
Islamabad’s chase began brightly with opener Martin Guptill scoring a quickfire 50 off just 30 balls. However, a middle-order collapse saw them lose wickets in quick succession, leaving the match hanging in the balance.
Wasim, showcasing his all-round prowess, played a crucial cameo with an unbeaten 19, while Naseem Shah’s late blitz of 17 runs off 9 balls kept Islamabad in the hunt.
Despite Guptill’s early fireworks, Islamabad’s chase was pegged back by Multan’s spinners, Khushdil Shah (2-21) and Iftikhar Ahmed (2-19). League-leading wicket-taker Usama Mir (23 wickets for the season) also played his part by dismissing the dangerous Azam Khan in the death overs.
Heartbreak for Multan Sultans Continues in 9th Season
Multan Sultans were left heartbroken once again, having fallen short in their fourth consecutive PSL final. Despite posting a respectable total of 159-9 on a pitch favoring spin, their bowling attack couldn’t quite defend it in the face of a determined Islamabad chase.
Openers Martin Guptill and Azam Khan provided a solid start, but Multan’s spinners, Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed, pegged them back. Naseem Shah’s late cameo and Wasim’s cool head under pressure ultimately proved decisive for Islamabad.
Multan skipper Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged Islamabad’s strong showing and praised Wasim’s match-winning performance.
“The sign of a good team is they win even without playing a perfect game,” said Shadab, who was later named player of the tournament for his all-around contributions throughout the season (305 runs, 14 wickets).
“To pick a five-for in a final and then contribute with the bat during a pressure situation – it was a new experience,” said Wasim, reflecting on his match-winning performance.
“Credit to Imad for picking a five-for and scoring those crucial runs,” said Rizwan. “Congratulations to Islamabad. It was a great contest played in front of a passionate crowd.”
