Multan Sultans (MS) secured a clinical victory on 28th March, as they successfully chased down a target of 172 runs to defeat Islamabad United (IU) by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
In this high-stakes encounter, Multan Sultans’ Momin Qamar was named Player of the Match. He took three wickets, dismissing Sameer Minhas (28), Shadab Khan (4), and Haider Ali (13), while conceding just 24 runs in his three overs. His composed yet impactful performance played a key role in the Sultans’ successful chase under pressure.
Player of the Match Momin Qamar shared his thoughts after the game:
Moreover, the legendary Steve Smith (31/23) also showed his class with three massive sixes during the power play, it was the middle order that ensured the momentum stayed with Multan Sultans.
Notably, Arafat Minhas played a lightning-fast innings of 25 runs off just 10 balls, while captain Ashton Turner remained unbeaten and scored 43 runs off 28 balls. Minhas’s and Turner’s performances helped Multan Sultans achieve the target score in the 19th over and to finish the game at 175/5 with 8 balls remaining.
Islamabad United struggled to make the most of their starts and finished with 171/8. Although several players scored in the twenties, they could not add the big hits needed for a higher total.
In the second innings, Islamabad United’s bowlers, led by Shadab Khan, tried to take wickets, but they couldn’t stop the Sultans from scoring quickly in the final overs.
Detailed Match summary (Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United )
Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to field first.
| Islamabad United | Multan Sultans |
|---|---|
| Devon Conway | Sahibzada Farhan |
| Sameer Minhas | Steven Smith |
| Andries Gous | Josh Philippe |
| Mark Chapman | Shan Masood |
| Shadab Khan (c) | Ashton Turner (c) |
| Haider Ali | Arafat Minhas |
| Faheem Ashraf | Mohammad Nawaz |
| Imad Wasim | Peter Siddle |
| Salman Mirza | Mohammad Wasim |
| Richard Gleeson | Shehzad Gul |
| Salman Irshad | Momin Qamar |
First Innings Summary
Some of Islamabad United’s players began their innings well. However, they couldn’t post a very high total.
Powerplay Overs (1 to 6)
Islamabad’s openers, Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas, provided a steady start. Conway played aggressively and scored 26 runs off 23 balls. By the end of the power play.
However, Conway had hit the ball, and the fielder took a straightforward catch in the 5.4th over. United reached 48 runs for the loss of one wicket by the end of the Power Play overs.
Middle Overs (7 to 15)
Multan’s bowlers tightened their lines and steadily reduced the scoring rate.
Momin Qamar led the effort with an outstanding spell, making a decisive impact in the match.
His breakthroughs ensured that, despite a brief recovery led by Mark Chapman, who top-scored with 40 runs off 21 balls, Islamabad United were 120 for 4 at the end of the 14th over.
Death Overs (16 to 20)
The final five overs saw efforts from Faheem Ashraf, who contributed 26 runs off 17 balls. However, on the bowling front, Mohammad Wasim and Momin Qamar kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. Team Islamabad United managed to add 51 runs in the final phase to finish at 171/8.
Bowling Performance
Momin Qamar was the standout bowler for Multan Sultans, maintaining tight lines and putting consistent pressure on Islamabad United’s middle order.
Mohammad Wasim supported well and dismissed 2 batsmen; Faheem Ashraf (26) and Imad Wasim (8), while veteran Peter Siddle took the wicket of captain Devon Conway on his debut. Together, their efforts kept United under control and limited them to 171/8.
Second Innings Summary
Multan Sultans played a strategic chase to reach 175/5 and claimed their first points of the PSL 2026 season.
Powerplay Overs (1 to 6)
Multan Sultans faced an early setback when Sahibzada Farhan got dismissed for just 2 runs off 4 balls in the 2.2 overs.
However, Steve Smith calmed the nerves with a flurry of boundaries. He and Josh Philippe kept the required run rate in check, ending the power play at 55/1.
Middle Overs (7 to 15)
In the middle overs, captain Shadab Khan brought himself into the attack and managed to dismiss both Steve Smith (31/23) and Josh Philippe.
Philippe’s 55 runs off 35 balls were the highlight of the innings.
It included five boundaries and two sixes.
Despite these breakthroughs, Multan Sultan’s captain, Ashton Turner, kept the scoreboard moving with clever placement. By the 15th over, the match was still hanging in the balance.
Death Overs (16 to 20)
Arafat Minhas took the game away from United in the 17th over. He struck 25 runs off 11 balls. His clean hitting left the Islamabad bowlers with no answers. Ashton Turner then finished the job in the 19th over, sealing a comfortable five-wicket win.
Conclusion
The 4th match of PSL 2026 showcased the depth of the rebranded Multan Sultans squad. Their ability to remain calm during the middle-order wobble, combined with a stellar debut from Josh Philippe, makes them a team to watch this season.
For Islamabad United, it was a missed opportunity to post a bigger total. Their bowling showed promise, but they lacked the finishing touch to defend 171 on a true batting surface.
Take a look at the latest PSL ’26 points table after Match 4 to see where all PSL teams stand.
Here, you can watch the full highlights of Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United, 4th Match of PSL ’26.
