Islamabad United vs Rawalpindiz — PSL 2026 Match 12 Report
Islamabad United vs Rawalpindiz produced a one-sided contest at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Saturday night. United won comfortably by 7 wickets, finishing the chase in just 14.2 overs. Meanwhile, Rawalpindiz remain winless through their debut PSL season, still searching for their first victory.
Islamabad United vs Rawalpindiz: Toss and Conditions
Shadab Khan won the toss and elected to field first. Overcast conditions greeted both sides at Gaddafi Stadium. This was the first-ever meeting between these two franchises in PSL history, adding extra significance to the clash.
Rawalpindiz Batting: 156/7 in 20 Overs
Rawalpindiz struggled to build momentum from the very first over. Richard Gleeson and Imad Wasim were disciplined from the start, conceding little and creating early pressure. Gleeson struck twice to remove openers Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan cheaply, putting the debutant franchise on the back foot early.
Kamran Ghulam steadied the innings with a composed 50 off 39 balls. However, wickets fell at regular intervals and no significant partnerships developed. The middle order failed to accelerate at the right time. Consequently, Rawalpindiz limped to a below-par 156/7 in their 20 overs.
Dian Forrester provided a much-needed late flourish. The overseas batter smashed an unbeaten 44 off just 19 balls, including two sixes and two fours in the final over off Salman Irshad. His cameo rescued a difficult innings and at least gave Rawalpindiz something to bowl at. Nevertheless, 157 was always likely to be insufficient on this batting-friendly surface.
Islamabad United Bowling Highlights:
- Richard Gleeson — 2/21 in 4 overs Top Bowler
- Faheem Ashraf — 2 wickets, economical spell
Islamabad United Chase: 157/3 in 14.2 Overs
United’s reply was commanding from the very first ball. Sameer Minhas came out with total intent, taking three boundaries in the first two overs. Though Devon Conway fell at 58, Minhas continued to dominate. He eventually departed for a brilliant 70 off 36 balls, including 7 boundaries and 4 sixes — an innings that all but ended the contest.
After Minhas’s dismissal at 92, Mohammad Faiq fell at 112. However, Mark Chapman and Haider Ali stayed calm and unbeaten, closing out the chase with ease. Chapman accelerated at the finish, hitting three boundaries in a single over to wrap up the game with nearly six overs to spare. United crossed the target of 157 in just 14.2 overs, finishing on 157/3.
Islamabad United Batting Highlights:
- Sameer Minhas — 70 (36) Player of the Match
- Mark Chapman — 24* (not out)
- Haider Ali — 26* (not out)
Fall of Wickets (Islamabad United):
- 58 — Devon Conway
- 92 — Sameer Minhas
- 112 — Mohammad Faiq
Match Scorecard Summary
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Rawalpindiz | 156/7 | 20 |
| Islamabad United | 157/3 | 14.2 |
| Result | Islamabad United won by 7 wickets | — |
Playing XIs
Islamabad United: Devon Conway (wk), Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Faiq, Mark Chapman, Shadab Khan (c), Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Chris Green, Richard Gleeson, Salman Irshad
Rawalpindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Yasir Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Abdullah Fazal, Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Dian Forrester, Cole McConchie, Rishad Hossain, Jalat Khan, Mohammad Amir
Key Talking Points from Islamabad United vs Rawalpindiz
United on a roll: This was Islamabad United’s third win of PSL 2026. Their bowling unit has now proven to be one of the most consistent in the tournament. Furthermore, Sameer Minhas continues to be their most explosive batting weapon at the top of the order.
Rawalpindiz debut season struggle: Despite having quality players like Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, and Daryl Mitchell, the new franchise cannot find their rhythm. They have now lost multiple matches without a single win. Their bowling attack must improve significantly if they are to turn the season around.
Gleeson the key: Richard Gleeson’s early breakthroughs proved decisive. By removing Rizwan and Yasir Khan in the powerplay, he denied Rawalpindiz any chance of a big total.
Dian Forrester impresses: Although Rawalpindiz lost, the West Indies all-rounder Forrester showed serious hitting ability. In addition, his composure under pressure was a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing innings for the Pindiz.
