Match Center

Right. So Islamabad United top the table with 8 wins, with Multan in second place. These two will play the Qualifier at 5 pm local (1300 GMT) on Monday, 21st June, 2021. And in the night, at 10 pm local (1800 GMT), Eliminator 1 willl be played between teams ranked third and fourth - i.e. - Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings. Do join us for the playoffs. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Islamabad United captain, SHADAB KHAN, praises Wasim for his excellent comeback after a poor last match and also a worse first over in this one. Calls him as a good learning kid, who wants to prove himself. Looks at the way his team fought back with the ball in the first innings but is also mindful of the fact that batting collapses need to be taken care of. Understands that Qualifier would be tough against Multan but adds that keeping things simple is the best way to go about stuff.

MOHAMMAD WASIM HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Wasim says that he is very happy with his performance. On his excellent usage of his variety in bowling, Wasim credits his captain for helping him. Ends by saying that he will donate this money earned in this game to the poor and needy.

Multan Sultans' skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, is happy with the effort shown by his team, which is what he expects and wants. Admits the loss of track from 92/0 during their batting innings and says that the plan was to maintain the momentum and hence, wickets fell, crediting Islamabad's bowling as well. Is confident of beating United in Qualifier. On the numbers being placed by the coaching staff outside the boundary, Rizwan says that it is a suggestion from the coaching staff on certain bowling plans to be executed but the final decision is taken by him on the field.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the day, Multan Sultans got off to a flier, adding 92 for the opening wicket but suddenly lost the plot, not even getting to 150. Mohammad Wasim was the star for Islamabad United, with his 4-fer helping his side roar back into the contest. Please stay tuned for the presentation ...

Multan Sultans fought hard in the latter half of the run chase. Shahnawaz Dhani was magical again but the likes of Usman Qadir and Blessing Muzarabani put their hand up in ensuring that Islamabad United were dragged till the final over. It was almost like a repeat of these team's previous encounter in Karachi, in February 2021, where a similar target was chased down by Islamabad United, via huffing and puffing.

A game which did not have much for the fielding side in the second innings. Islamabad United started a bit scrappily but then the trio of Shadab Khan, Hussain Talat and Asif Ali eased the nerves in the dressing room. They were going pretty well but somehow, started to get stuck in a web. Eventually, they clawed their way out.

One of the most compelling death-overs viewing in T20 cricket. Multan Sultans scored 25/6 in their last 5 overs. Islamabad United scored 21/3 in their last 4.4 overs. They have actually made a mountain out of a molehill, chasing a moderate target of 150. But they have won in the end.

ISLAMABAD UNITED WIN BY 4 WICKETS! Drama on the final ball. Full, around middle, Iftikhar Ahmed missed his flick and was hit on the pads. Blessing Muzarabani is such a good sport that he actually felt ashamed to even appeal, it was so far down the leg side. But Mohammad Rizwan chose to review. In the meanwhile, the ball deflected to the off side and the batsmen pinched a single as well. There was a direct hit at the striker's end and Multan appealed for this as well. Going by order, the third umpire checked for the LBW. No inside edge and Ball Tracker showed the impact to be outside leg. Now, the other drama. The run out. What had happened was, Mohammad Wasim did not ground his bat at the striker's end. He plonked his foot in and the fielder kicked the ball at the striker's end. But thankfully for United, the foot was down before the bails were up. So not out on both the counts.

Do we have a review on the final ball? Yes, we do. Seems to be going down leg to the naked eye. This should be the end of the match. Impact outside leg. Now, they check for the run out. Safe there too. The match ends at last.

A short ball, outside off, pulled through mid-wicket for a couple. Just a single needed now.

Mohammad Wasim walks in at number 8, replacing Hussain Talat.

OUT! CAUGHT! That is a top catch from Shahnawaz Dhani. A short ball, around middle, Hussain Talat looks to hook but the bounce gets big on him. Takes the top edge and flies down to fine leg but Dhani races to his left, slides and takes a one-handed stunner.

A short ball, outside off, Iftikhar Ahmed leaps with the bounce and guides it towards Shahnawaz Dhani at third man for a single.

We do have a last over then. Just 4 needed to win. Blessing Muzarabani to bowl it. 2-0-13-0 so far.

A short ball, outside off, Talat looks to pull but misses. 4 runs from the over, Shahnawaz Dhani finishes with figures of 4-0-21-2.