Karachi, April 23, 2026: Rawalpindiz registered their first victory of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11, defeating Islamabad United with a composed all-round performance at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a modest target of 138, Rawalpindiz reached the finish line in the 19th over for the loss of four wickets, led by a crucial partnership between skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam.
The chase got off to a disastrous start as opener Abdullah Fazal was dismissed on the very first ball. However, Rizwan and Ghulam steadied the innings with a composed 78-run stand, guiding the side past the 50-run mark.
Ghulam was the first to depart after scoring a well-crafted 42 off 30 balls, including five boundaries and a six, falling to Chris Green. Rizwan followed soon after, dismissed by Shadab Khan for a fighting 45 off 38 deliveries.
Islamabad briefly clawed back into the contest with a sharp run-out of Sam Billings, but Daryl Mitchell (32* off 25) and Dian Forrester (13) ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding Rawalpindiz home comfortably.
Earlier, Rawalpindiz’s bowling unit produced a disciplined display to restrict Islamabad United to 137 in their 20 overs.
Islamabad had a slow start, with Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas struggling to accelerate. The breakthrough came in the fifth over when Mohammad Amir dismissed Minhas, followed by Naseem Shah removing Mohammad Faiq.
The pressure intensified as Saad Masood claimed the key wicket of Shadab Khan, leaving Islamabad reeling at 30-3.
A 49-run partnership between Conway (40 off 33) and Mark Chapman provided some stability, but Mitchell broke the stand to swing momentum back in Rawalpindiz’s favour.
Asif Afridi and Amir then tightened the screws, removing Chapman and Faheem Ashraf respectively, as wickets continued to tumble.
Late resistance came from Chris Green, who scored a quick 29 off 16 balls, but Islamabad’s innings folded soon after. Dian Forrester wrapped up the tail, finishing with two wickets in the final over.
The comprehensive win gives Rawalpindiz a much-needed boost in the tournament as they look to build momentum in the remaining fixtures.
