Islamabad United secured a spot in the top two of the standings after defeating the Multan Sultans by six wickets in their final group match. Thanks to an explosive 69 not out from Mark Chapman, Islamabad successfully chased down a target of 193. This victory means Islamabad will move on to play Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier, while Multan drops to a matchup against the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the first Eliminator.
Multan’s Innings
After being sent in to bat, Multan started strong. Openers Steve Smith and Sahibzada Farhan both scored 30 runs before being dismissed on back-to-back balls right around the end of the Powerplay. Shan Masood contributed a steady 44, and late hitting from Arafat Minhas and Mohammad Wasim Jr. helped the team reach a competitive total of 192/7. Islamabad’s bowling attack was balanced, with every bowler taking at least one wicket.
The Chase
Islamabad’s start was shaky, losing both opening batters early. However, a 63-run stand between captain Shadab Khan and Mark Chapman stabilized the innings. The turning point came when Chapman, who was dropped by Wasim Jr. early in his knock, began to dominate the bowlers.
Highlights of the Chase:
- Mark Chapman’s Performance: 69* runs off just 33 balls.
- Boundary Count: Chapman hit four boundaries and six maximums.
- The Finish: The match ended in the 19th over when Chapman took 14 runs off a single over from Wasim Jr. to secure the win.
