MUL VS ISL FINAL

That's it from the coverage of this game and this edition of the Pakistan Super League as well. Although, don't forget the cricketing action will continue and it cannot get any bigger as the Indian T20 League kicks off in four days time. It will be Chennai taking on Bangalore in the first match of the new season. Until then, take care and goodbye.

The captain of Islamabad United, Shadab Khan is the Player of the Tournament. He led from the front for Islamabad, scoring 305 runs and took 14 wickets. He starts by saying that he knows his strengths and weaknesses. Adds that he does not have the firepower to bat down the order and therefore, he looks to promote himself to contribute to the team. Shares that he was not in a good space coming into the tournament and tried to fix areas as a bowler. States that watching from the outside is tough. Ends by saying that his team did not perform as they would have liked but is happy with the win and thanks almighty for it.

The captain of the Multan Sultans, Mohammad Rizwan says that if the game gets to the last ball, you can not point out where the game was lost. Mentions that it was a great effort from the team to take the game down to the last ball. Feels that it was great to see his bowlers perform in pressure situations. Reckons that in these types of tournaments, momentum is important. Credits Islamabad United for the way they played. Says that he did not bat to his potential and ends by saying that it was great to play in front of a packed crowd.

Usman Khan is named the Batter of the Tournament for scoring 430 runs. The award for the Bowler of the Tournament goes to Usama Mir for taking 24 wickets. Irfan Khan of the Karachi Kings is the recipient of the Emerging Player of the Tournament award.

Imad Wasim wins the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance. Starts by thanking the almighty. Mentions that to perform like this in a final, was a really experience and learned a lot as well. Hoped if the match could've ended one over earlier. Feels that he has 4 to 5 more years left in him.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Martin Guptill is next in for a chat. He says that it is great viewing for the fans but not so for the players when it gets close. Mentions that the going was tough at the start but it got better as he settled. Feels that it was great to have a good start courtesy of Colin Munro who smacked a few.

Naseem Shah is in for a quick chat. He says that it was an incredible game and it is the beauty of this game. States that it has not sunk in yet and he is speechless right now. Shares that he has been practising in the nets and it was nice to contribute.

Islamabad United were on the money, with the ball in hand. They had the opposition by the scruff of the neck at 127/9, although they just lifted their foot a bit in the fag end, Iftikhar Ahmed cashed in with a valuable 32 runs to put some impetus to the scoreboard of Multan Sultans. Islamabad United might feel they should've gotten the final wicket early, to release them from the nail-biting affair in the second innings. They could have just cruised over the victory line if the target was under 140.

Multan Sultans put in a solid performance with the ball in hand. They posted an under-par total on this wicket, but eventually made it look like an above-par score, by some good bowling which made them take this game down to the wire. Although, they just could not take it to the Super Over. It was Khushdil Shah who turned up the heat for them with the ball in hand. He picked up the first two wickets and broke the backbone of the opposition. Iftikhar Ahmed then worked his magic to get rid of Shadab Khan cheaply, but could not be more effective in the middle overs. Usama Mir also picked up just a wicket, and surely his skipper expects more from him. Mohammad Ali picked up a wicket in the final over, but could not defend the runs in the final over.

Hunain Shah came in to face the final delivery, but he made sure to hold his nerves. Found the gap and took the winning run, which converted into a victory lap in the blink of an eye. The pendulum swung in favour of both the teams and quite regularly, although it is Islamabad United that come out on top. Islamabad United got off to a promising start, with their openers setting the tone with a 26-run partnership. They were looking class apart, although lost a wicket against the run of play. Agha Salman then came out but could not stick around for long. Eventually, Martin Guptill and Azam Khan decided to up the ante, when they lost three wickets in quick succession. They stitched a 47-run stand effortlessly, and they were in cruise control mode, although somehow they got derailed once again through a miscommunication which got the better of Martin Guptill. Azam Khan soon allowed the pressure to get the better of him. Then came a brisk stand of 30 runs off 16 deliveries between Imad Wasim and Naseem Shah which made sure Islamabad United never fall way behind in this run chase.

GAME OVER! What a match! Islamabad United becomes the first ever team in the history of Pakistan Super League to lift the trophy three times. Phew! What a humdinger of a contest. Worthy of a final for sure. Each and every cricket fan was treated here. We usually don't see matches on a Monday night with such high stakes, although it exceeded plenty of expectations for sure.

HUNAIN SHAH HAS DONE IT AND HE'S OFF ON A VICTORY LAP! Islamabad United get over the line on the last ball to clinch the title for the third time in their history. Joy on the faces of the players of Islamabad, agony on the faces of the players of Multan Sultans. Mohammad Ali stays over the wicket for the final ball and opts to take pace off, on a good length, on off, Hunain Shah shapes up to put bat to ball and push it away on the off side. Angles the bat face perfectly and picks the gap between backward point and short third. It is enough for them to take the single and the players of Islamabad storm their way onto the park. ISLAMABAD UNITED WIN BY 2 WICKETS AND ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF 2024 PSL!

Hunain Shah comes in to face the final delivery. ONE RUN NEEDED. A wicket or a dot ball. We are in for Super Over.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! MORE DRAMA! Naseem Shah edges one behind to the keeper and we are going to the last ball. Coming to the ball, Mohammad Ali banged into the deck on off, Naseem Shah sways away a bit and tries to fetch the pull. Gets an outside edge that is snaffled comfortably by Mohammad Rizwan. He goes up in appeal and up goes the finger. Islamabad United need 1 run off the final ball. Fancy a Super Over?

A mini-conference happeing between the skipper and bowler. Mohammad Ali needs to uproot the stumps here, for a huge momentum shift. 1 run needed in 2 balls.

Scorers level now! Ali serves it on a hard length, on off, Imad Wasim gets on his toes and gets rushed as he looks to play at it. Chops it down in the vacant short cover region and hurries to the other end. Ali gets there in his follow through and has a shy at the bowling end but Wasim is well in by then.

Leg bye! A bit too straight, on the pads, on a back of a length, Naseem Shah tries to help it away off his pads but misses. The ball rolls on the leg side and they cross.

Imad Wasim and the umpire having a word now. Just calming things down here, he might still be asking about that No Ball which isn't given.