Islamabad United beat Rawalpindiz by seven wickets in first PSL twin cities clash

Lahore: Islamabad United registered a seven-wicket win over Rawalpindiz in the first Pakistan Super League meeting between the two sides, chasing a target of 157 with 34 balls remaining at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

The match was billed as the inaugural Twin Cities derby and was promoted on PSL social media channels during the day, but the contest did not turn into the close encounter that had been anticipated. Islamabad outperformed Rawalpindiz with both bat and ball to secure a comfortable result.

Rawalpindiz, featuring in their debut PSL season after the tournament expanded to eight teams, finished on 156 for 7 in 20 overs. Kamran Ghulam led their scoring with 50 off 37 balls, but wickets at regular intervals prevented the side from building a bigger total.

After winning the toss, Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan chose to field first. His bowlers made early inroads, with Richard Gleeson and Salman Irshad taking important wickets in the powerplay. Rawalpindiz were reduced to 35 for 2 in the first six overs. Faheem Ashraf also contributed to the effort as Islamabad kept the scoring under control and did not allow Rawalpindiz to establish lasting momentum beyond Ghulam’s innings.

Minhas leads chase

In reply, Islamabad’s pursuit was shaped by opener Sameer Minhas, who made 70 from 36 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes. His innings earned him the official Player of the Match award and laid the foundation for the chase.

Islamabad moved to 62 for 1 in the powerplay, with Minhas driving the innings forward. Although opening partner Devon Conway was dismissed after making a modest contribution, the rest of the batting line-up ensured the chase remained firmly under control.

Haider Ali added 26 not out from 16 balls, while Mark Chapman struck 24 not out off just seven deliveries as Islamabad completed the chase with authority.

Pressure grows on Rawalpindiz

The defeat was Rawalpindiz’s third in a row, leaving them still in search of their first PSL victory. It also extended a difficult sequence for captain Mohammad Rizwan, whose side has now lost 13 of its last 14 matches in PSL campaigns going back to the 2024 final.

For Islamabad United, the result underlined the depth in their squad and the strength of their batting resources this season. Their approach in the chase was aggressive but controlled on a batting-friendly Lahore surface.

With this loss, Rawalpindiz face increasing pressure to gain momentum and move away from the bottom of the standings. Islamabad, meanwhile, will look to carry forward the confidence from a comprehensive performance as the tournament continues.