Turner, Philippe steer Multan Sultans to comfortable win over Islamabad United

Multan Sultans cruised to a five-wicket victory over Islamabad United in a controlled chase of 172, powered by key contributions from Josh Philippe and Ashton Turner.

Chasing 172, Multan reached 175 for 5 with more than an over to spare. Philippe laid the foundation with a fluent 55, while captain Turner applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 43 off just 28 balls, ensuring there were no late hiccups in what turned out to be a straightforward pursuit.

Earlier, Islamabad United posted 171 for 8, a total that always felt slightly under par on a good batting surface. Mark Chapman top-scored with a brisk 40 off 21 balls, providing the only real momentum in an otherwise stop-start innings. Sameer Minhas added 28, but United struggled to build sustained partnerships.

Multan’s bowlers kept things tight from the outset. Veteran seamer Peter Siddle rolled back the years with an economical spell of 1 for 29, including the key wicket of Devon Conway in the Powerplay. The pressure created early was capitalized on by Momin Qamar, who picked up 3 for 24, removing Sameer Minhas and Shadab Khan in quick succession.

Despite a late cameo from Faheem Ashraf, United’s total never quite threatened to put Multan under real pressure.

In response, Multan’s chase was built around a dominant Powerplay. Steve Smith and Philippe targeted the bowling early, particularly going after Salman Irshad, setting the tone with aggressive strokeplay.

Although Imad Wasim and Richard Gleeson managed to keep things in check through the middle overs, Multan never lost control of the chase. The turning point came when Turner and Philippe accelerated against the spin of Shadab, adding a quickfire 61-run partnership off just 34 deliveries.

A late burst from Arafat Minhas, who struck 25 off 11 balls, sealed the game emphatically, as Multan showcased their intent and depth.

Having entered the tournament with a promise of playing an aggressive, all-round brand of cricket, Multan Sultans delivered a near-complete performance in their opening outing, underlining their credentials as strong contenders this season.