Highest Powerplay Score in the PSL

The below details the record for the 5 highest powerplay scores in the history of the PSL and the stories of the games that they occurred in. Getting off to a fast start is a crucial part of any T20 innings and these sides used the fielding restrictions in place during the first six overs to do just that in their respective PSL matches.

Islamabad United 97 runs vs Quetta Gladiators

The newest addition to this list and shattering the previous record for the highest powerplay score in the PSL is Islamabad United’s effort against Quetta Gladiators.

Set a meagre 134 to win, Islamabad United’s opening pair of Usman Khawaja and Colin Munro clearly had dinner reservations they were keen to make as they chased down the total in just 10 overs for the loss of no wickets.

Munro was the primary agressor as he started things off with 4 boundaries in the opening over of the powerplay alone. The boundaries kept flowing across the next couple of overs and it certainly looked like United were in with a chance of making this list when they reached 54 without loss from 4 overs.

However, it was the final couple of overs of the powerplay that the carnage really began as Khurram Shahzad who had already bowled one front foot no ball in his opening over delivered 2 in a row at the start of the 5th over which Munro dispatced for 4 and 6 to really rub salt in the wound. Things didn’t go much better in the final over of the powerplay for a Quetta side which was simply shell shocked by Munro’s brutal hitting as Zahid Mahmood conceeded another 22 runs and Islamabad had stormed to 97 when the field was finally allowed to go back.

Of the 97 runs in this record highest powerplay score, Munro hit 67 from just 24 balls including 10 x 4s and 3 x 6s at a strike rate of 279.

It’s difficult to see how anyone will be able to beat the highest powerplay score in the PSL set by Islamabad United but it’s going to be fun watching teams try!

Multan Sultans 78 runs v Lahore Qalandars, 2019

This was some effort by the Multan Sultans back in 2019 as they took a Lahore attack that included the likes of Harris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi for a then record-high 78 in the powerplay to lay the foundations for what was ultimately a very comfortable victory.

Chasing a fairly low total of 140, the Sultans didn’t waste any time putting themselves firmly in control of this match. James Vince and fellow opener Umar Siddiq had laid a good foundation for a big powerplay score by getting their side to 42 for 1 from the first 4 overs but it was overs number 5 and 6 that really saw Multan put their foot down with both going for 18 runs.

Shan Masood started the fun by crashing a 2 x 4s and a 6 off Hassan Khan’s over before James Vince joined in by smoking Afridi back over his head and then lacing him through the covers in typical Vince manner for 4 to bring up the 50 partnership between the 2 from just 18 deliveries! While Vince was out next ball it only took his replacement, Johnson Charles, a single sighter before he finished off the powerplay with back to back boundaries.

View the full scorecard of the 2nd highest powerplay score in the PSL

Karachi Kings 78 runs vs Islamabad United, 2019

Just days after Multan Sultans effort of 78, Karachi Kings equalled their highest score in the powerplay in a PSL match in this game vs Islamabad United.

This time it was Kiwi left-hander Colin Munro who did most of the damage as he hit a quickfire 32 from 11 balls to get his team off to a flier. After Munro was out, Faheem Ashraf restored some calm to proceedings with the 5th over going for just 5 runs but in the final 6 deliveries, Babar Azam and Liam Livingstone let lose to add a further 17 runs and take the powerplay total to 78.

Despite this fine start, Karachi faltered later in the innings adding only 83 more runs from the remaining 14 overs and allowing Islamabad to ultimately seal victory with 3 balls to spare.

View the scorecard for the joint second highest powerplay in PSL history.

Quetta Gladiators, 77 runs vs Lahore Qalandars, 2016

Going back to the inaugral season of the PSL for one of the best matches in the tournaments history which for several years also provided its highest powerplay score.

Batting first, the Lahore Qalandars made 201 from their 20 overs with the likes of Chris Gayle and Umar Akmal leading the charge. However, their efforts weren’t enough as Quetta Gladiators won the game in thrilling style with Mohammed Nabi hitting 4 to win from the very last delivery.

It was all set up however by the fast start in the powerplay delivered by Bismillah Khan who made 52 in the opening 6 overs and Kevin Pietersen who chipped in with 31 from 15 while the field was up. In fact, at one stage it looked as though Quetta were on course for an even higher score in the powerplay given that they were 64 for 1 off just 4 overs before Lahore managed to pull things back.

View the full scorecard of the 4th highest powerplay in the PSL

Islamabad United, 77 runs vs Karachi Kings, 2021

A more recent addition to the list of highest PSL powerplay scores comes from Islamabad United in what was a dramatic start to their run chase against Karachi Kings.

The Kings made 196 batting first thanks in no small part to a century from Sharjeel Khan at the top of the innings. However, Sharjeel did ride his luck during his knock having been dropped on multiple occasions including by Alex Hales who obviously recognised that he had some making up to do when he strode out to bat.

Things started badly for United though as Phil Salt and Shahdab Khan both departed for ducks inside the first 2 overs to leave them 13 for 2. Hales though wasn’t about to take a backward step as he plundered 29 runs off the 3rd over, the most runs ever from a single over in the PSL! The Englishman was finally out in the 6th over for 46 from just 21 balls but his burst during the powerplay was enough to set-up Islamabad for the win as the middle order knocked off the remaining runs.

View the full scorecard here

Highest scores after 6 overs

There have in fact been a couple of scores after 6 overs that are higher than those on the list above albeit that both matches were shortened to fewer than 20 overs due to rain and therefore those 6 overs were not all powerplay overs.

Peshawar Zalmi made 86 from 6 overs in a match vs Lahore Qalandar that was shortened to 12 overs a side. Tom Banton and Haider Ali lead the charge both with scores of 34 from 15 balls and 12 balls respectively

James Vince was at it again at the top of the order for Multan Sultans in a match against Islamabad in 2020 that was cut to just 9 overs a side due to poor weather. The Englishman’s 20 ball half century helping the Sultans to a score of 84 from 6 overs.