- The Twin Cities Derby in HBL PSL 11 finishes with 1-1 season scoreline and Rawalpindiz laying claim to the Golden Bail for a year
- United’s Faheem Ashraf completed 1,000 HBL PSL runs; Rizwan reached the milestone of 9,000 T20 runs
- Tournament scorecards and stats are available here; Action images are available here for free download and editorial use
- The official nomenclature of the league is HBL PSL; Media houses are advised to use the correct nomenclature in all texts, headlines and bulletins
Karachi, 23 April 2026: Rawalpindiz chose the occasion of the Twin Cities Derby to claim their maiden HBL Pakistan Super League win after they chased down the modest 138-run target set by Islamabad United, with six wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare in the afternoon fixture of Thursday’s double-header here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
The Golden Bail was handed over by Shadab Khan to the Rawalpindiz skipper Mohammad Rizwan in the post-match presentation ceremony. With this win, Rawalpindiz have thrown a spanner in the works for Islamabad United, who now have to win their remaining two league matches after currently occupying the third spot on the back of nine points.
Rawalpindiz elected to field after winning the toss and made early inroads as Mohammad Amir removed Sameer Minhas (6, 11b, 1×4) with a slower ball dragged to Abdullah Fazal at cow corner at 20-1 in the fifth over.
Naseem Shah, on return from injury, had Mohammad Faiq (5, 6b, 1×4) caught at fine leg off a slower bouncer to leave Islamabad 29 for two. Saad Masood struck with his first delivery when Shadab Khan cut a short ball straight to Dian Forrester at point for one off two balls, leaving United 30 for three inside the powerplay.
Devon Conway and Mark Chapman steadied the innings with a 49-run stand for the fourth wicket. Chapman dragged Saad Masood for a four through midwicket and pulled Cole McConchie for six over the same region as the pair pushed United past the halfway mark.
Conway mixed reverse sweeps against the spinners with a six launched over cover off Mitchell’s slower ball. Mitchell broke the partnership in the 12th over, having Conway (40, 33b, 3x4s, 2x6s) caught by Abdullah Fazal at cover off a slower delivery. Chapman fell in the next over, trapped leg before wicket by Asif Afridi for 23 off 18 balls, and United slipped to 79 for five.
Haider Ali laboured to six off 13 balls before top-edging Saad Masood to Abdullah Fazal at midwicket — his third catch of the innings. Faheem Ashraf, who reached 1,000 HBL PSL runs during his knock of 11 off 12 balls, edged a slower bouncer from Amir behind to Mohammad Rizwan, leaving United reeling at 99 for seven in the 17th over.
Chris Green launched a late counter-attack of 29 off 16 balls with two fours and two sixes, including a six launched over cover off Mitchell, before Forrester wrapped up the innings in the final over, removing Mohammad Hasnain and Richard Gleeson for naught off consecutive deliveries. Green was run out off Mitchell’s throw to Rizwan attempting to retain strike as United were bowled out for 137.
In turn, Abdullah fell first on the first ball to Imad Wasim. Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam then put on 78 runs for the second wicket to take the sting out of the chase.
Rizwan, who became only the third Pakistan batter after Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam to reach 9,000 T20 runs during the stand, struck Shadab for four with a one-handed sweep in the seventh over and launched Imad for six over long off.
Kamran smoked Faheem for four over cover and danced down the track to loft Imad over long off for six as the pair took the required rate below seven an over.
Chris Green broke the stand in the 10th over when Kamran (42, 30b, 5x4s, 1×6) pulled a length ball into the hands of Sameer at deep midwicket.
Rizwan fell shortly after for 45 off 38 balls, top-edging a slog sweep off Shadab to Gleeson at fine leg as the scoreboard read 92 for three in 12.5 overs. Shadab then ran Sam Billings (2, 4b) out backing up at the non-striker’s end and United briefly sensed an opening as Rawalpindiz managed just eight runs across three overs.
Mitchell and Forrester settled the nerves with an unbroken 41-run stand. Mitchell slapped Gleeson for six over midwicket and placed a four through the vacant midwicket region before Forrester clubbed Sameer Minhas for six over long off.
Forrester sealed the win with a four drilled to square leg off Mohammad Hasnain. Rawalpindiz, who have broken their eight-match losing streak, will now face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the afternoon match on 26 April.
Scores in brief:
Match 34 – Rawalpindiz beat Islamabad United by six wickets at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Islamabad United 137 all out, 20 overs (Devon Conway 40, Chris Green 29, Mark Chapman 23; Dian Forrester 2-9, Mohammad Amir 2-21, Saad Masood 2-27)
Rawalpindiz 140-4, 18.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 45, Kamran Ghulam 42, Daryl Mitchell 32 not out)
Player of the Match: Mohammad Rizwan (Rawalpindiz)
Golden Bail Holders – Rawalpindiz