Minhas masterclass powers Islamabad United to dominant win over Pindiz

A blistering knock from Sameer Minhas propelled Islamabad United to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz, as the much-hyped twin-city clash failed to live up to its billing at Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing 157, Islamabad made light work of the target, cruising to 157 for 3 with nearly six overs to spare. The chase was anchored by a sensational 36-ball 70 from Minhas, whose aggressive strokeplay dismantled the Rawalpindiz bowling attack early in the innings.

The foundation for Islamabad’s victory was laid in a dominant powerplay, where they surged to 62 for 1 in the first six overs—nearly double of Rawalpindiz’s modest 35 for 2. Minhas, continuing his rich vein of form after a match-winning 82* against Quetta Gladiators, looked in complete control from the outset.

One of the standout moments came when he pulled a sharp bouncer from Mohammad Amir over mid-wicket for a towering six, underlining his authority at the crease. In the 58-run opening stand, Minhas contributed a staggering 47 runs, overshadowing his partner Devon Conway, who struggled for fluency.

Although Minhas fell at the start of the ninth over, there was no twist in the tale. Haider Ali (26* off 16) and Mark Chapman (24* off just 7 balls) finished the chase emphatically, sealing a comprehensive win.

Earlier, Islamabad’s bowlers set the tone with a disciplined performance after Shadab Khan opted to exploit moisture in the pitch following a rain delay. England pacer Richard Gleeson made immediate impact, swinging the ball both ways to remove Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan inside the first four overs.

With support from Imad Wasim, who bowled with trademark accuracy, Rawalpindiz were left reeling at 15 for 2. A counterattack from Kamran Ghulam, who scored a resilient 50 off 36 balls, briefly revived the innings, but lack of support from the middle order prevented them from building momentum.

A late flourish from debutant Dian Forrester, who struck two sixes and two fours in the final over, lifted Rawalpindiz to a somewhat competitive 156 for 7—but it ultimately proved insufficient.

The defeat marks a worrying trend for Rawalpindiz, who have now lost all three of their matches this season. It also extends a poor run for captain Rizwan, who has now suffered 13 defeats in his last 14 PSL matches as skipper, dating back to the 2024 final.

Despite pre-match hype framing this fixture as a budding rivalry between the twin cities, Islamabad United’s one-sided victory suggests there is still a gap to be bridged before it can be considered a true contest.