Match overview

Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United by 5 wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 28 March 2026, successfully chasing down a target of 172 in a Pakistan Super League T20 fixture. Multan won the toss and chose to field, a decision that proved correct as United's innings stalled in the middle overs. Islamabad posted 171/8 after a decent powerplay of 48 runs for 1 wicket, but the loss of 4 wickets in the middle phase for 82 runs restricted their total to well below Gaddafi Stadium's average first-innings score of 208. Multan's reply mirrored the structure almost exactly: 49 for 1 in the powerplay, 84 for 3 in the middle, and 42 for 1 in the death. Momin Qamar was named Player of the Match.

The result continues a rivalry that has now stretched to 19 PSL meetings without a single abandoned or no-result game. United had led the head-to-head 10 wins to 9, but Multan's chase narrows that advantage to one match. Both sides had arrived at this fixture on the back of five successive defeats in their most recent PSL outings, so the win carries added significance for Sultans in terms of tournament momentum.

Venue and conditions

Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has hosted 145 T20 matches, generating an average first-innings score of 208 runs and an average second-innings score of 177. On those numbers alone, Islamabad United's total of 171 was modest. The venue's powerplay average is 46 runs, so both sides exceeded that benchmark in the first six overs of each innings, which set up relatively similar mid-game scoring positions.

The chase success rate of 43 per cent tells the more interesting story. Historically, sides batting first at Gaddafi Stadium win more often than not. Multan bucked that trend by keeping wickets in hand during the middle phase and managing the death overs competently, conceding only 1 wicket while scoring 42 runs in that final stretch. Toss data shows the side choosing to field has done so in 49 per cent of matches at the ground, suggesting no overwhelming toss bias in either direction.

The death-overs average of 43 runs per innings at this venue is almost exactly what both sides produced here (41 for United, 42 for Multan), which underlines how closely the match tracked historical patterns once the middle overs had set the platform.

How to watch

PSL fixtures are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Matches can be streamed live via Sky Go or NOW TV with a relevant subscription. UK viewers should check Sky's published schedule for precise kick-off times, as PSL matches in Pakistan typically begin in the afternoon local time, which translates to early evening in the UK depending on the time of year.

Recent form

Neither side came into this fixture carrying much momentum. Islamabad United had won only 1 of their previous 5 PSL matches, beating Karachi Kings but losing twice to Quetta Gladiators, once to Lahore Qalandars, and once more to Quetta. Multan Sultans' recent record was, if anything, worse: five consecutive defeats against Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, Quetta again, and Lahore Qalandars.

Given those sequences, the clean execution of a successful chase by Multan carries real weight. United's inability to build on a solid powerplay and set a more imposing total will be a concern for their campaign. With the head-to-head now effectively level at 10 wins apiece across 19 meetings, the next encounter between these sides will carry the added edge of a series that has never been far from parity.