Mohammad Amir and Asif Afridi shine as Rawalpindiz chase down 138 with ease to avoid record losing streak
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Rawalpindiz finally broke their losing streak in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, registering their first win of the season in their penultimate league game. A disciplined bowling performance, led by Mohammad Amir and supported by Asif Afridi, Saad Masood, and Dian Forrester, helped restrict Islamabad United to a modest total of 137.
Islamabad United endured a poor start after being put under pressure early in the powerplay. With Amir, Naseem Shah, and Afridi striking at regular intervals, United slumped to their lowest powerplay score of the season. The early dismissal of Shadab Khan further dented their innings, leaving them struggling at 30 for 3.
The middle order failed to recover as Mark Chapman, Haider Ali, and others could not accelerate the scoring. Islamabad only found some momentum towards the end, thanks to Chris Green’s quickfire 29 off 16 balls. His late surge, capitalizing on the absence of Naseem Shah at the death, helped push the total to 137, giving United a fighting chance.
In response, Rawalpindiz began their chase cautiously. Although they lost an early wicket, Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam steadied the innings with a crucial 78-run partnership. Their measured approach ensured there was no panic, as they kept the required run rate under control.
Despite a brief wobble when both set batters fell in quick succession, Rawalpindiz held their nerve. Daryl Mitchell and Dian Forrester took charge in the latter stages, sealing the game in the 17th over. Mitchell’s aggressive strokeplay, including a six and a four off Richard Gleeson, effectively ended Islamabad’s hopes.
Rawalpindiz comfortably chased down the target with 11 balls to spare, avoiding the unwanted record of nine consecutive losses in a single PSL season. This victory not only gave them their first points but also restored some pride after a difficult campaign.
