Islamabad, 12 April 2025: Islamabad United began their PSL10 campaign with an eight-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The defending champions put on a commanding all-round display to seal the emphatic win with more than two overs to spare in their 20-over quota.
While chasing a modest target of 140, Islamabad United lost just two wickets, with Colin Munro leading the charge through an unbeaten half-century.
The confident knock from left-handed batter ensured a smooth chase and underlined the intent of the defending champions for the season 10th edition.
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In the curtain-raiser of the PSL season 10th, United skipper Shadab Khan opted to field first after winning the toss — a decision that paid off handsomely.
West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder spearheaded the bowling attack, claiming four wickets for 26 runs in a fiery four-over spell.
Shadab Khan himself chipped in with three wickets, while Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, and Riley Meredith also made contributions, taking one wicket each.
The Two times champions Lahore Qalandars struggled to gain momentum after losing their opening batters while just 30 runs on board.
The top-order of the Lahore Qalandars faltered early, with Fakhar Zaman departing for just one run in the second over, leaving the side at 4-1.
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The Two times champions Lahore Qalandars struggled to gain momentum before losing their another opening batter while just 30 runs on board.
Abdullah Shafique, however, provided some resistance, scoring a crucial 66 runs off 38 deliveries, featuring six boundaries and three sixes.
His partnerships with Daryl Mitchell (13) and Sikandar Raza (23) offered some hope, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to capitalise.
The Shaheen Shah Afridi-led side was eventually bowled out for 139 in 19.2 overs, undone by the Shadab Khan-led side disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
The clinical performance from United sends a strong message to the rest of the competition.
| Teams | M | W | L | N/R | PT | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.144 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1.144 |
| Karachi Kings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Multan Sultan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
