Islamabad United sealed their place in the PSL 2026 Qualifier with an impressive chase against Multan Sultans at the National Stadium in Karachi. A composed yet explosive unbeaten 69 from 33 balls by Mark Chapman guided United to a four wicket victory with eight balls remaining, helping them climb to second place in the standings.
This crucial result means United will now face Babar Azam led Peshawar Zalmi in Qualifier 1, while Multan Sultans are pushed into the Eliminator where they meet Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Chasing a challenging 192, United once again placed their faith in their batting depth. The innings gained stability after early setbacks, and it was Chapman who took full control in the middle overs. Walking in at number five, he played a decisive role, smashing six towering sixes out of the team’s total of eight maximums. His 63 run partnership with Shadab Khan, who contributed 36 from 28 balls, steadied the innings after a brief wobble.
Chapman had an early moment of fortune when a difficult catch was missed, and he made sure the opposition paid heavily for that error. Even after Shadab’s departure and quick wickets of Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf created a slight opening, Chapman held his nerve and steered the chase with authority.
Earlier, Multan Sultans posted a competitive 192, largely boosted by a late surge. Their innings saw a dramatic turnaround in the final stages as Mohammad Wasim unleashed a brutal assault in the last over, collecting 25 runs. Arafat Minhas also played a key supporting role with a quick 31 from 19 deliveries, and together they added 56 runs in the last 21 balls to lift the total.
Before that late charge, Sultans had lost momentum due to a middle order collapse. From a steady 102 for 2, they slipped to 136 for 6 after losing four wickets in quick succession. Shan Masood held the innings together with a solid 44 off 33 balls, particularly targeting spin during the middle phase.
Despite their efforts, the total proved insufficient on a batting friendly surface. Islamabad United’s calculated approach and Chapman’s match winning knock ensured a confident finish, setting up a high stakes clash in the playoffs.
