KARACHI: RawalPindiz finally opened their account in PSL 11 with a convincing six-wicket victory over Islamabad United at the National Stadium on Thursday, chasing down a target of 138 with 11 balls to spare.
The first win of the season lifts RawalPindiz off the bottom of the table and breathes life into their campaign after a difficult start to the tournament.
Rawalpindiz finally register their maiden HBL PSL win and claim the Golden Bail 🤩#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #RPvIU pic.twitter.com/qVq56a3qlz
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 23, 2026
Winless no more
Having lost their opening seven matches of PSL 11, RawalPindiz entered in this contest desperate for a breakthrough. And they delivered their most complete performance of the season, first restricting United to a modest 137 and then pacing the chase to perfection.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan led from the front with a composed 45 off 38 balls, while Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten on 32 to see his side home.
Rizwan falls to a top edge Gleeson takes a superb catch! 🎯#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #RPvIU pic.twitter.com/d0aXLSMI3M
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 23, 2026
Early jolt, then control
The chase began nervously when Abdullah Fazal fell first ball to Imad Wasim. But Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam (42 off 30) steadied the innings with a 78-run partnership that effectively ended the contest.
Even after Ghulam and Rizwan fell, Mitchell and Dian Forrester (13 not out) ensured there were no late hiccups, adding 41 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket.
Bowlers set up victory
Earlier, RawalPindiz’s bowlers laid the foundation for the first win. Mohammad Amir (2 for 21), Saad Masood (2 for 27), and Naseem Shah (1 for 9) kept Islamabad United’s batters in check, while Asif Afridi (1 for 17) bowled economically.
Devon Conway’s 40 and Chris Green’s late 29 off 16 were the only bright spots in a United innings that collapsed from 79 for 3 to 137 all out.
What the win means
For RawalPindiz, this victory is more than just two points. It breaks a psychological barrier after a winless start to PSL 11 and proves they can compete against quality opposition.
For Islamabad United, it is a setback that leaves them needing to regroup quickly as the tournament progresses.
