MULTAN: Islamabad United showcased their dominance once again in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2025, cruising to their fifth consecutive victory with a clinical seven-wicket triumph over Multan Sultans at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Despite Multan entering the contest on the back of a solid win against Lahore Qalandars, they couldnāt withstand the balanced and fearless approach of the in-form Islamabad side. The defending champions chased down the 169-run target in just 17.1 overs, highlighting their firepower with both bat and ball.
The hero of the night was Unitedās opener Andries Gous, who delivered a standout performance, smashing a blistering 80 off 45 deliveries. His innings included six boundaries and five towering sixes, marking his first PSL half-century and setting the tone for Unitedās effortless chase.
Islamabad lost Sahibzada Farhan early to a sharp bouncer from Ubaid Shah, but Gous, joined by Colin Munro (45 off 28), ensured there were no further hiccups. The pair added a rapid 81-run stand that laid the foundation for the win. Munroās aggressive strokeplay and Gousā fearless hitting neutralized Multanās bowling attack, with spinner Usama Mir and pacers Chris Jordan and Ubaid Shah bearing the brunt.
After Munroās dismissal, Gous continued his assault, dispatching Iftikhar Ahmed for multiple boundaries and bringing up his fifty in just 29 balls. He sealed the game with a couple of mighty blows, assisted by Mohammad Nawaz, who chipped in with a steady 24 off 17 balls.
Earlier in the evening, Multan opted to bat first but couldnāt fully capitalize on their start. Usman Khan emerged as the top scorer for the Sultans, crafting a composed 60 off 44 balls with four sixes and as many fours. Despite a decent powerplay, Multanās innings lacked fluency as their batters struggled to rotate strike in the middle overs.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan struggled to accelerate, eventually falling for 36 off 36 deliveries. The middle order failed to provide any real support, with Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, and others falling cheaply. Despite a couple of late boundaries from Kamran Ghulam, the final score of 169 felt under par.
Islamabad Unitedās bowling unit, including Shadab Khan, Riley Meredith, and Jason Holder, kept Multan in check with disciplined lines and clever variations, never allowing any batter to settle for long.
With this victory, Islamabad United remain unbeaten and firmly sit atop the points table, while Multan Sultansā playoff hopes are fading, with only one win so far this season. The Sultans must now regroup quickly if they want to stay in contention.
