West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder produced a stellar performance on both ends of the pitch to power Islamabad United to a commanding 47-run victory over Shai Hope’s Multan Sultans in a one-sided PSL clash at Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
Holder smashed an unbeaten 32 off just 14 balls, laced with three boundaries and two towering sixes, helping Islamabad post a formidable 202-6. He then returned to torment the Sultans with the ball, picking up 4-25 in four overs to dismantle the opposition for 155 in 18.4 overs and secure his second Player-of-the-Match award in just three games.
Another crucial contribution came from Sahibzada Farhan, who backed up his recent century with a stylish 53 off 35 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. Farhan initially struggled for fluency but sprang to life in the powerplay’s latter half, taking Michael Bracewell for 30 runs across two overs before being dismissed soon after reaching his fifty.
Despite a few mid-innings hiccups—losing Farhan, Shadab Khan (14), Azam Khan (four), and a quick-fire 48 off 25 from Colin Munro, including four fours and three sixes—United surged at the death. Haider Ali and Holder took full advantage of some loose bowling, with the final four overs yielding 64 runs. Holder’s assault on Ubaid Shah, in particular, lit up the death overs and ensured United crossed the 200-run mark for the second game in a row.
Ali smashed three fours and two sixes in his 16-ball 33. Chris Jordan (2-41) led the Sultans bowling.
In response, Sultans briefly looked in control after a rapid start despite losing Hope (one) early to Naseem Shah. Usman Khan’s 20-ball 31 helped push the score along, but United’s spinners, led by Shadab and Imad Wasim, soon applied the brakes. The next five overs brought just 29 runs and the crucial wicket of Mohammad Rizwan (38), who perished trying to force the pace.
Bracewell and Iftikhar Ahmed (32) tried to revive the chase, but Holder’s return sealed the game. He removed Usama Mir (one) and Mohammad Hasnain (zero) in quick succession and brought Ahmed’s resistance to an end with a simple catch to long-off to wrap up the innings and confirm Multan’s third straight defeat.