Islamabad United started their PSL 10 campaign with a bang, grabbing a comfortable 8-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium last Friday. After the opening match, the win gave them 2 points and put them on top of the points table.
United, the defending champions, just cruised through the 140-run target set by Lahore, reaching it with 14 balls to spare and only two wickets gone. The whole team, especially Jason Holder, who gave a performance to remember in his debut and a cool half-century from Colin Munro, made sure it was a memorable win for the team.
Methodical Chase After Fall of Opener’s Wicket
The start of the United innings was a bit shaky when the newcomer Andries Gous was caught for only 4 runs. But Colin Munro and Sahibzada Farhan did well in bringing stability to the innings with a 55-run partnership. Farhan contributed 25 runs in the ninth over when he was out, but Munro was calm and, together with Salman Ali Agha, he found a dependable partner.
They both remained not out after adding 80 runs and secured the win for Islamabad. Munro finished with 59* from 42 balls, including seven fours and a six, while Agha managed 41* from 34 balls, with three fours and a six.
Holder’s First Game Heroics Were the Start
By choosing to field first, United’s decision to take charge proved to be spot on. They made Lahore’s batsmen go from confident to clueless. The latter could only score 139 runs from 19.2 overs as the former’s bowlers were too good. On his first appearance, Holder picked 4 wickets for 26 runs in his quota of 4 overs and was the game-changer.
Skipper Shadab Khan also put his two cents in with the ball, claiming three wickets with a fine bowling spell. Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, and Riley Meredith also struck one wicket apiece to ensure Lahore failed to get the batting rhythm until the end.
Shafique Emerges as Last Man Standing in Batting Disaster
The depths of Lahore’s batting were tested early on after opener Fakhar Zaman was out for just one run. At the other end, Abdullah Shafique notched an excellent 66 off 38 balls, which included six fours and three sixes. His effort was furthered by Daryl Mitchell (13) and Sikandar Raza (23) but only to a small extent, after which the team could not score enough, and the Qalandars’ tournament journey began with a defeat.
Position in the League at the Game Start
The 73-run win for the Islamabad United makes them the leaders of the 10th season of the PSL with 10 points and a great run rate. On the other hand, the Lahore Qalandars are in critical condition and at the bottom of the points table without any points as they earned the rusty spoon in the match of the season.
By winning, IU will go into the second match against the leading team filled with the confidence of winning, while the Qalandars will take on the task of returning to the winning circle.
