Hyderabad Kingsmen booked their place in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 final after a nail-biting two-run victory over Islamabad United in the second eliminator at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. In what turned out to be one of the most thrilling encounters of the tournament, the debutant side held their nerve in the final moments to eliminate the three-time champions and secure a spot in the grand finale against table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi.
Chasing a competitive target of 187, Islamabad United got off to a shaky start. Their top order struggled early on, losing Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz within the first three overs, leaving the scoreboard at a worrying 15 runs. Captain Shadab Khan then joined Devon Conway in an attempt to stabilize the innings. The pair adopted a cautious approach and managed to build a 42-run partnership for the second wicket. However, their progress was halted in the eighth over when Saim Ayub dismissed Conway, who scored 30 off 25 balls.
Shadab Khan continued to anchor the innings but failed to accelerate, eventually falling for 22 runs off 24 deliveries in the 11th over. His dismissal further increased the pressure on Islamabad United. Mark Chapman then stepped up and played a crucial role in reviving the chase. He formed a valuable 64-run partnership with Haider Ali, who contributed a quick 31 off 16 balls before being dismissed in the 16th over.
Chapman looked in excellent touch and kept United in the hunt with an aggressive innings of 43 runs off 26 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes. However, his dismissal in the 18th over proved to be a turning point. Despite this setback, Islamabad United remained in a strong position thanks to the late surge by all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Chris Green. The duo smashed 22 runs in the penultimate over, bringing the equation down to just six runs needed from the final over.
With the match hanging in the balance, Hyderabad Kingsmen handed the ball to Hunain Shah to defend six runs. Showing exceptional composure under pressure, Hunain delivered a brilliant final over, conceding only three runs and sealing a dramatic two-run victory for his side. His outstanding performance in the death overs earned him the Player of the Match award.
Earlier in the match, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted a strong total of 186/5 in their 20 overs after being put in to bat. Their innings began on a poor note when Richard Gleeson dismissed opener Maaz Sadaqat for a duck in the very first over. However, Saim Ayub and captain Marnus Labuschagne steadied the innings with a 70-run partnership for the second wicket. Ayub played a fluent knock of 38 off 27 balls before being dismissed by Chris Green in the 10th over.
The Kingsmen then suffered a brief collapse as Labuschagne (40) and Glenn Maxwell were both dismissed in quick succession by Imad Wasim, leaving the team at 85/4. At this critical stage, wicketkeeper-batter Usman and Kusal Perera came together to turn the game around. The duo produced a remarkable 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket, completely shifting the momentum in favor of Hyderabad.
Usman was the standout performer, remaining unbeaten on 61 off just 30 balls, striking 10 boundaries in an explosive innings. Perera provided excellent support with a quickfire 37 off 21 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes. Their partnership propelled the Kingsmen to a formidable total, which ultimately proved just enough to secure victory.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim was the most effective bowler, taking two wickets for just 16 runs in his two overs. Faheem Ashraf, Richard Gleeson, and Chris Green also chipped in with one wicket each.
Hyderabad Kingsmen’s resilience, strong middle-order performance, and exceptional death bowling made the difference. Their victory not only highlights their fighting spirit but also marks a remarkable achievement for a debut team. They will now face Peshawar Zalmi in the final, aiming to cap off their impressive campaign with the championship title.
