Sameer Minhas struck 70 off 36 balls as Islamabad United chased down 157 in 14.2 overs to beat Rawalpindi in the PSL on Saturday.
Rawalpindi posted 156-7 after being asked to bat. Kamran Ghulam led the innings with 50 off 39 balls, but the rest of the batting unit struggled to build momentum.
Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan were dismissed for two runs each, while Daryl Mitchell (19) and Abdullah Fazal (23) added brief contributions. Proteas all-rounder Dian Forrester finished unbeaten on 44.
Islamabad’s bowling unit applied pressure through the middle overs. Richard Gleeson, Faheem Ashraf and Salman Irshad all picked up key wickets, preventing Rawalpindi from establishing partnerships.
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In response, Islamabad lost Devon Conway early for six, but quickly took control through Minhas. He struck seven fours and four sixes, setting the pace of the chase and keeping the required rate under control.
Minhas was supported by Mohammad Faiq (19) and Haider Ali, who remained unbeaten on 26. Mark Chapman added a quick 24* off seven balls to close out the match.
Islamabad scored 62 in the powerplay, compared to Rawalpindi’s 35, which proved decisive. Their ability to maintain scoring pressure throughout the innings ensured a comfortable win with 34 balls remaining.
Photo: PSL
