LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen secured a dramatic two-run victory over Islamabad United in the second eliminator of the Pakistan Super League season 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, advancing to the final against Peshawar Zalmi.
The contest unfolded as one of the most gripping matches of the tournament, with the outcome decided in the final over.
Chasing a target of 187, Islamabad United were restricted to 185, despite a late surge that brought them within touching distance. The defeat ended United’s campaign, while the Kingsmen, competing in their debut season, moved one step away from the title.
United’s pursuit began on an uneasy note as they lost Sameer Minhas for six and Mohsin Riaz for five inside the first three overs, slipping to 15/2. Captain Shadab Khan attempted to stabilise the innings alongside Devon Conway, with the pair adding 42 runs before Conway was dismissed in the eighth over after scoring 30 off 25 deliveries, including three fours and a six.
Shadab’s cautious knock of 22 from 24 balls ended shortly after, when he fell to Hassan Khan in the 11th over. With the innings requiring acceleration, Mark Chapman stepped up, forging a vital 64-run partnership with Haider Ali.
Haider contributed a brisk 31 off 16 balls before departing in the 16th over, while Chapman continued to anchor the chase with an aggressive 43 from 26 deliveries, striking five fours and two sixes. His dismissal in the 18th over, however, shifted momentum back towards the Kingsmen.
Despite losing Chapman, United mounted a strong finish through Faheem Ashraf and Chris Green, who plundered 22 runs in the penultimate over to bring the equation down to six runs required from the final over.
Final over
Defending just six runs, Hunain Shah delivered under immense pressure, conceding only three runs to seal a narrow victory. His disciplined execution at the death proved decisive, capping a tense finish that kept the contest alive until the final delivery.
Hunain and Mohammad Ali picked up two wickets each for the Kingsmen, while Akif Javed, Hassan Khan and Saim Ayub claimed one apiece.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, the Kingsmen posted 186/5 in their 20 overs, recovering from an early setback. Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for a duck in the opening over, leaving the side at 1/1.
A steady 70-run partnership between Saim Ayub and captain Marnus Labuschagne rebuilt the innings. Ayub scored 38 off 27 balls before falling in the 10th over, while Labuschagne added 40 from 32 deliveries, hitting four fours and a six.
The innings briefly faltered when Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell were dismissed in quick succession, reducing the Kingsmen to 85/4 in the 12th over.
Game turn
A decisive turnaround followed through an outstanding fifth-wicket partnership between Usman Khan and Kusal Perera. The duo added 101 runs, shifting the momentum firmly in Kingsmen’s favour.
Usman led the charge with an unbeaten 61 off 30 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries, while Perera contributed 37 from 21 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Their efforts propelled the total beyond the 180-run mark, which ultimately proved just enough.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim stood out with the ball, claiming two wickets for 16 runs, while Faheem Ashraf, Richard Gleeson and Chris Green took one wicket each.
PSL 11 Final
The Kingsmen will now face Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL 11 final at the same venue on Sunday, with the title set to be decided following a high-intensity knockout phase that has already delivered one of the season’s most dramatic encounters.
