LAHORE: Teenage opener Sameer Minhas played another impressive innings to help Islamabad United demolish debutants Rawalpindiz by seven wickets in the Pakistan Super League twin cities derby on Saturday.

Sameer’s whirlwind 36-ball 70 allowed the three-time champions to overhaul Rawalpindiz’s 156 for seven with three wickets in hand and 34 balls to spare.

The result moved Islamabad United to second position with five points from three matches, while Rawalpindiz remained rooted to the bottom alongside fellow debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen without a point from three matches. Karachi Kings lead the table with six points from three matches.

Sameer, whose previous two scores were 82 not out and 28, clobbered seven fours and four sixes. He added 58 off 31 balls for the first wicket with Devon Conway (6) before putting on 34 off 24 balls for the second wicket with Mohammad Faiq (19).

After Sameer and Faiq departed in quick succession to leave Islamabad at 112 for three, Haider Ali and Mark Chapman took control, putting on an unfinished 45 off 17 balls for the fourth wicket to take Islamabad United home in 14.2 overs. Haider Ali scored 26 not out off 16 balls with three fours and a six, while Chapman struck four fours and a six in a seven-ball 24 not out.

Earlier, South Africa’s Dian Forrester celebrated his PSL debut with a quickfire 44 not out off 19 balls to lift Rawalpindiz from 98 for five in 15 overs to 156 for seven. Forrester belted two fours and four sixes, including 20 runs off the final over that spoiled the figures of Salman Irshad, who finished with two for 52.

From the top order, Kamran Ghulam anchored the innings with a fine 39-ball 50 with six fours and two sixes. After Rawalpindiz slipped to 15 for two, Kamran added 51 off 37 balls for the third wicket with Daryl Mitchell (19).

The other notable partnership was the sixth-wicket stand between Abdullah Fazal and Forrester. Abdullah dominated the 21-run stand, scoring 23 off 16 balls with two sixes.

Despite being the most expensive bowler, Salman Irshad still claimed the wickets of Mitchell and Abdullah. Richard Gleeson and Faheem Ashraf were the most impressive bowlers, keeping Rawalpindiz’s scoring in check with two wickets each, conceding 21 and 22 runs respectively.

Scores in brief:

Match 12 – Islamabad United beat Rawalpindiz by seven wickets

RAWALPINDIZ 156-7, 20 overs (Kamran Ghulam 50, Dian Forrester 44 not out, Abdullah Fazal 23, Daryl Mitchell 19; Richard Gleeson 2-21, Faheem Ashraf 2-22, Salman Irshad 2-52)

ISLAMABAD UNITED 157-3, 14.2 overs (Sameer Minhas 70, Hadier Ali 26 not out, Mark Chapman 24 not out, Mohmmad Faiq 19)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Sameer Minhas (Islamabad United)

SUNDAY’S FIXTURES: Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators (7pm), Lahore