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PSL 2024 Final | Imad Upstages Iftikhar Show In A Thriller As United Become Champions

Imad Wasim celebrating his five-wicket haul in PSL 2024 final (PCB)Imad Wasim celebrating his five-wicket haul in PSL 2024 final (PCB)

Brief Scores: Multan Sultans: 159-9 (20 overs) [Usman Khan: 57 (40), Iftikhar Ahmed: 32* (20); Imad Wasim 5/23 (4), Shadab Khan 3/32 (4)] lost to Islamabad United: 163-8 (20 overs) [Martin Guptill: 50 (32), Azam Khan: 30 (22); Iftikhar Ahmed 2/19 (3), Khushdil Shah 2/21 (4)] by two wickets.  

Islamabad United outclassed PSL 2024 table-toppers Multan Sultans on the night of the final at Karachi’s National Stadium to lift their third trophy, and the first since their 2018 triumph.


Imad cuts through Sultans before Iftikhar leads revival

Senior Islamabad United spinner Imad Wasim mowed down Multan Sultans top-order after the latter’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan had won the toss and confidently opted to bat first.

Sharing the new-ball with fast bowler Naseem Shah, Wasim struck twice in his opening over by removing Yasir Shah and number three David Willey in a space of four deliveries. 

Mohammad Rizwan’s threatening stay was halted at a run-a-ball 26 by his opposite number Shadab Khan as Sultans slipped to 67-3 at the halfway stage of the innings.

Amidst tumbling wickets, number four batsman Usman Khan kept composure and produced 57 runs from his end to list his fourth fifty-plus score of the season. 

Meanwhile, Imad Wasim silently added Johnson Charles, Khushdil Shah and Chris Jordan to his tally to finish with astonishing figures of 5-23 from his four overs.

Captain Shadab also seized three of his own, including the prized-scalp of a well-set Usman Khan before Multan Sultans’ senior man Iftikhar Ahmed bludgeoned three towering sixes in a remarkable slog-overs cameo. 

The burly all-rounder whacked 32 unbeaten runs off 20 deliveries to lift his side from a precarious 127-9 to a respectable 159 by the completion of their 20 overs.


United seal thriller, foil Iftikhar’s all-round show

Islamabad United were jolted early in their high-profile run-chase, as they lost opener Colin Munro and number three Agha Salman both at the hands of left-arm spinner Khushdil Shah inside the opening power play to slip to 46-2.

Iftikhar Ahmed, who snaffled a stunning catch to hand Khushdil his first scalp of the innings, seized a wicket off his own by cleaning up United skipper Shadab Khan.

Martin Guptill kept the run-chase going from his end, as he smacked a blistering 32-ball half-century to take his side past the 100-run mark. 

Wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan also produced a handy 22-ball 30 before his dismissal at the hands of Usama Mir triggered a three-wicket burst in Multan Sultans’ remarkable fightback.

Iftikhar caught-and-bowled Faheem Ashraf as Islamabad United’s run-chase quest dented further at 129-7. Imad Wasim, who had claimed a five-fer in the first half of the game, fortunately hung around for his side for the final wicket alongside number nine Naseem Shah.

Both Naseem and Imad battled their way to maneuverer a tense 30-run stand from 16 balls to take Islamabad United to the brink of victory. 

With Naseem falling at the edge of the finishing line, his younger brother Hunain Shah finished the job with a match-winning boundary off the final ball of the run-chase.

The win marked Islamabad United’s third PSL title, and their first since the 2018 edition of the tournament.