Multan Sultans opened their campaign with a five-wicket victory over Islamabad United, chasing down 172 with more than an over to spare at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Josh Philippe’s 55 and an unbeaten 43 from Ashton Turner guided the chase after United posted 171 for 8 in the first innings.
Sultans Restrict United to 171
After opting to field, Multan kept Islamabad in check early. Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas were unable to accelerate in the powerplay, as Peter Siddle and Shehzad Gul maintained tight lines.
Siddle, returning figures of 1 for 29, removed Conway late in the powerplay, which yielded just 48 runs — the lowest first-innings powerplay score in the tournament so far.
Islamabad briefly increased the tempo after the powerplay, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Arafat Minhas dismissed Andries Gous, while Momin Qamar struck key blows, finishing with 3 for 24 after removing Sameer Minhas and Shadab Khan.
Mark Chapman led the scoring with 40 off 21 balls, keeping United competitive, while Faheem Ashraf added late runs to push the total to 171.
Philippe Sets Platform in Chase
Multan began their chase aggressively, targeting Salman Mirza in the early overs. Philippe and Steve Smith capitalised, with Mirza conceding 32 runs in his first two overs.
Despite early pressure, Islamabad’s bowlers managed to regain some control. Imad Wasim dismissed Sahibzada Farhan, while Richard Gleeson and Salman Irshad kept the scoring in check during the middle phase.
Turner Finishes the Job
With the required rate under control, Multan built their innings steadily. Philippe anchored the chase with a well-constructed 55, before Turner accelerated in the middle overs.
The pair added 61 runs off 34 balls, shifting momentum firmly in Multan’s favour. Turner remained unbeaten on 43 from 28 deliveries.
Arafat Minhas contributed a quick 25 off 11 balls late in the innings, ensuring there were no late setbacks as Multan sealed the win comfortably.
Brief Scores
- Islamabad United 171 for 8 (Mark Chapman 40, Sameer Minhas 28; Momin Qamar 3-24)
- Multan Sultans 175 for 5 (Josh Philippe 55, Ashton Turner 43*; Salman Irshad 2-28)
- Multan Sultans won by 5 wickets
