Sameer Minhas Powers Islamabad United to Dominant Win against RawalPINDIZ
Islamabad United produced a commanding performance to defeat Rawalpindiz by seven wickets in match 12 of PSL 2026, chasing down 157 with nearly six overs to spare. Sameer Minhas once again stood out, his 70 runs innings led Islamabad United to a comfortable victory on a good batting surface at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
The win underlined Islamabad’s dominance in a contest that had been billed as a rivalry, but the gap between the two sides was evident across both innings.
Minhas sets the tone in the chase
Sameer Minhas continued his outstanding form with a fluent 36-ball 70, following up his unbeaten 82 from the previous match against Quetta Gladiators.
He dictated the chase from the outset, scoring freely while Devon Conway struggled at the other end. Minhas struck boundaries consistently from the second over, including a standout pull shot off a Mohammad Amir bouncer for six.
In the opening partnership of 58, Minhas contributed 47 runs, establishing complete control of the chase. His dismissal early in the ninth over caused no disruption.
Haider Ali (26 not out off 16) and Mark Chapman (24 not out off 7) finished the job efficiently, ensuring there was no late pressure.
Islamabad bowlers dominate powerplay
Earlier, Islamabad United’s bowlers laid the foundation with an excellent powerplay display after a 40-minute rain delay.
Richard Gleeson exploited the conditions, swinging the ball both ways to remove Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan in the second and fourth overs. Imad Wasim supported him with tight lines, restricting scoring opportunities.
Rawalpindiz were reduced to 15 for 2 after four overs, immediately putting them on the back foot.
Ghulam fights but support falls short
Kamran Ghulam provided resistance with a well-made 50 off 36 balls, including three boundaries in the sixth over that briefly revived the innings.
However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to build momentum. It was only in the final over that Dian Forrester, playing his first PSL match, added late runs with two sixes and two fours.
Rawalpindiz finished on 156 for 7, but their slow start in the powerplay proved costly.
What this means
Islamabad United’s comprehensive win highlights their strong form and balance, particularly with Sameer Minhas delivering consistent performances at the top.
For Rawalpindiz, a third straight defeat leaves them under pressure early in the tournament, with both batting consistency and powerplay execution emerging as key areas for improvement.
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