After a prolific bowling effort, Islamabad United batsmen Monday struggled before clinching a thrilling three-wicket win over Multan Sultans to clinch the title of the ninth season of the Pakistan Super League at National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

Chasing a target of 160 runs, Islamabad United were 129-7 in 17.1 overs needing 31 runs off 17 balls.

Naseem Shah came into the fore then and like his reputation of a batsman under pressure situations, he struck for a four and a six to again bring the balance in Islamabad's favour.

The star of the night, Imad Wasim, then held to his nerves and hit two consecutive boundaries to Chris Jordan.

Needing eight runs in the last over bowled by Muhammad Ali, Naseem Shah hit a boundary on the second ball of the over and the scores were level in 19.4 overs. Ali removed Naseem on the second last ball who scored 17 runs off 9 balls hitting a six and two boundaries. However, his brother Hunain Shah did the job as he hit the last ball boundary to win the thriller for United.

Islamabad was off to a blasting start to their chase with Colin Munro and Martin Guptill scoring 26 runs in three overs. Khushdil Shah broke the opening partnership when Munro was snaffled by Iftikhar Ahmed at short midwicket, with a spellbinding diving catch to his right. He made 17 runs off 13 balls.

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Khushdil also removed Agha Salman who scored 10 runs off 11 balls. Iftikhar then clean bowled Shadab Khan who made four runs off eight deliveries as Islamabad were 3-55 in 8.1 overs. Azam Khan and Guptill added 47 runs for the fourth wicket. Guptill reached his 50 off 30 balls but a mix-up with Azam led to his run out.

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From there, Multan Sultans added pressure on United and they were looking to break the curse of losing finals. Azam was caught behind off Usama Mir after scoring 30 runs off 22 balls after Rizwan took a half-hearted review that yielded the result.

Haider Ali could score only five runs and Faheem Ashraf was out for one. Imad remained unbeaten with 19 off 17 balls and Hunain with 4 runs off 1 ball.

Islamabad United’s all-rounder Imad Wasim and captain Shadab Khan Monday caught Multan Sultans into a spin web as both shared eight wickets to restrict Multan to 159-9 in 20 overs.

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For Multan, Iftikhar took 2-19, Khushdil Shah 2-19, David Willey 1-15, Muhammad Ali 1-28 and Usama Mir 1-36.

After electing to field first, Muhammad Rizwan’s side Multan Sultans came up with questionable maneuvering with the batting order that did not pay off. Sending David Willey to one down slot and then holding up Iftikhar Ahmad till eighth position were quite the baffling decisions that too at the most crucial time of the event baffled all.

However, Usman Khan kept his rich reign of form intact and Iftikhar came up with some gusty blows at the end of the innings to give Multan a fighting chance in the event.

Imad was lethal with his accurate and precise line and length as he removed opener Yasir Khan and Willey in his first over. Yasir and Wiley both made 6 runs each.

Rizwan and Usman tried to give some stability to Multan innings as both added 53 runs for the third wicket before Rizwan fell to Shadab after scoring 26 runs off as many balls hitting three boundaries.

Usman then flexed his muscles and hit Faheem Ashraf for a six before Naseem Shah dropped him on the next ball at the boundary.

Imad next took the wicket of Johnson Charles who top-edged a delivery that went to Naseem at short fine leg and Naseem did not make any mistake this time.

Usman continued his attacking on the other end before he became the second victim of Shadab when he was down on one knee and looked to clout it over wide long-on but substitute fielder Jordan Cox took a spellbinding juggling catch on the boundary.

Usman made 57 runs off 40 balls with the help of seven boundaries and a six and also finished the event as second highest run-getter with 430 runs in seven innings with an impressive average of 107.50.

Next came Usama Mir who hit Shadab for a six on the first ball and then holed out for a regulation catch for Hunain Shah on the very next ball while trying to hit a wide massive leg-break delivery.

Imad then removed Khushdil Shah and Chris Jordan in his last over to complete his five-wicket haul, the first in this season.

Khushdil made 11 runs off 13 balls while Jordan went for a duck. Abbas Afridi made 1 before he was run out.

Iftikhar however flexed his muscles and contributed useful unbeaten 32 runs off 20 deliveries. He hit three sixes and as many boundaries and battle with Naseem in the last over was a treat to watch for the fans.

He dominated NAseem in the first three balls by hitting two boundaries and a six but Naseem outwitted him completely with his pace and accuracy as the last over yielded 18 runs.

Muhammad Ali remained unbeaten without any score.

From Islamabad United, Imad starred with the ball with figures of 5-23 and Shadab with 3-32.

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