Islamabad United overcame a late hiccup to defeat Multan Sultans by four wickets in the dress rehearsal for Monday’s qualifier as the 30th league match of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 concluded at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Multan Sultans lost 10 wickets for 56 runs as they were sent tumbling out for 149 in 20 overs after being 93 for no loss in the 10th over. Mohammad Wasim Jnr, whose opening over cost him 18 runs, came back strongly to finish with career-best figures of 4-0-31-4, including three wickets in his final over.

Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and Australia’s wrist spinner Fawad Ahmed bagged two apiece, conceding 24 and 25 runs respectively.

For Multan Sultans, Shan Masood scored 59 from 37 balls with six fours and three sixes, while Mohammad Rizwan chipped in with a 24-ball 26 and Johnson Charles contributed a 16-ball 19.

In reply, Islamabad United achieved victory with two balls and four wickets to spare after they required four runs off the last over. Shadab Khan top scored with 35, while Hussain Talat (34), Muhammad Akhlaq (26) and Asif Ali (25) were the other notable run-getters.

Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir equally shared four wickets between them, conceding 21 and 22 runs, respectively.

The match result had no bearing on the final standings with Islamabad United finishing at the top of the table with 16 points, followed by Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings, who all ended with up on 10 points apiece. Lahore Qalandars with 10 points and Quetta Gladiators with four points were eliminated from the tournament.

Multan Sultans’ superior net run-rate over Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings means the Southern Punjab side will take on Islamabad United in Monday’s qualifier, which will start at 5pm (UAE time).

The first eliminator between Peshawar and Karachi will follow the second qualifier which will begin at 10pm (UAE time). The second eliminator between the loser of the qualifier and winner of the first eliminator will be played on Tuesday with the first ball to be bowled at 8pm (UAE time).

United have been in a red-hot form since losing their first Abu Dhabi-leg match to Qalandars in a last-over thriller on June 9. The Shadab-led side have since won five matches on the trot to finish with a staggering eight wins in 10 league-stage matches. United had won three out of their first four matches of the Karachi-leg.

The foreign opening duo of Usman Khawaja and Colin Munro have dazzled for United in the Abu Dhabi-leg. Usman, the Australian international batsman, posted the only century of the Abu Dhabi-leg, leading his side to victory in a record breaking, high scoring thriller against Zalmi last week.

In five games, the left-hander has tallied 175 runs at 58.33 and a strike-rate of 147.05 with the help of one century. Munro has amassed 241 runs in five games at 80.33 with an astonishing strike-rate of 174.63. His tally of runs includes two half-centuries.

Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed have provided valuable support in the middle-order with the bat with match winning contributions.

Amongst the bowlers, Hasan Ali leads the pack for United with 12 wickets in eight games at 16.75. Emerging category pacer Wasim Jr. has been the most impressive in his debut HBL PSL season, collecting 11 wickets in nine matches.

After 30 league matches, Kings’ Babar Azam leads the batting chart with 501 runs, followed by Sultans’ Mohammad Rizwan (470), Sarfaraz Ahmed of Gladiators (321), Sharjeel Khan of Kings (312) and Sultans’ Sohaib Maqsood (304).

Dahani of Multan is the most successful bowler with 20 wickets, followed by Qalandars’ Shaheen Shah Afridi (16), Zalmi’s Wahab Riaz (14) and Qalandars’ James Faulkner (13).

The first 14 matches in the six-team 30-match double-league format were played at Karachi’s National Stadium before a COVID-19 induced suspension on March 4. A monumental effort by the PCB, Emirates Cricket Board and Abu Dhabi Cricket ensured the resumption of the tournament in Abu Dhabi on June 9.

Since the restart, 16 remaining matches of the league stage have been played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium between June 9 to June 19.

Brief scores:

Islamabad United beat Multan Sultans by four wickets

Multan Sultans 149 all out, 20 overs (Shan Masood 59, Mohammad Rizwan 26, Johnson Charles 19; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 4-31, Faheem Ashraf 2-24, Fawad Ahmed 2-25)

Islamabad United 150-6, 19.4 overs (Shadab Khan 35, Hussain Talat 34, Muhammad Akhlaq 26, Asif Ali 25; Shahnawaz Dahani 2-21, Usman Qadir 2-22)