PSL 2025, Match 1 Review: Islamabad United cruise past Lahore Qalandars in season opener

Islamabad United kicked off their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 campaign on a positive note, as they registered a comfortable eight-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars in the season opener at Rawalpindi on April 11.

Having won the toss, United opted to field first and executed the plan brilliantly, troubling the Qalandars' batters from the beginning. Fakhar Zaman perished for just 1 off Riley Meredith in the second over. Mohammad Naeem followed soon after, nicking one off Jason Holder to leave Lahore struggling at 30 for 2.

Abdullah Shafique, however, showed some fight during the early collapse. He held one end while wickets were falling around him. But Imad Wasim and skipper Shadab Khan removed Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings in quick succession, with the scorecard reading 58 for 4 by the ninth over.

Shafique found some support in Sikandar Raza, and the pair stitched a 35-run stand, but the stay was short-lived. United’s pacer Holder returned and struck twice in two balls, first removing Jahandad Khan and then cleaning up David Wiese. He later claimed the wicket of Shaheen Afridi and ended a brilliant spell of 4 for 26. Shafique’s 66 off 38 ended as the ninth wicket, and Shadab wrapped things up by dismissing Haris Rauf. The Qalandars were bowled out for 139 in 19.2 overs.

Chasing 140, the Islamabad-based side started cautiously on a surface that wasn’t the easiest for batting. Andries Gous fell early to a sharp Asif Afridi delivery, but Colin Munro and Sahibzada Farhan steadied the ship. While Farhan made the most of the bad balls, clearing the ropes thrice in his 24-ball 25 before falling to Haris Rauf.

Munro, meanwhile, played the anchor role and paced his innings brilliantly, including hitting Jahandad Khan straight down the ground. Joined by Salman Agha, the duo took the game away from Lahore. Wiese’s 12th over leaked 17 runs and effectively turned the contest one-sided.

Agha played a crucial hand too, as he remained unbeaten on 41 off 34 balls. The right-hand batsman sealed the win in style by lofting Jahandad over extra cover as United reached 143/2 in 17.4 overs.