PSL 11: Hyderabad Kingsmen edge Islamabad United in thriller to reach final

Lahore (Web Desk): In a dramatic and closely fought encounter of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 Eliminator 2, Hyderabad Kingsmen defeated Islamabad United by just 2 runs to secure a place in the final.

The final will now be played on Sunday between Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen.

The match, played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, saw Islamabad United win the toss and opt to field first.

Batting first, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted 186 for 5 in their allotted overs. Usman Khan led the charge with a fluent 61 off 10 boundaries, while captain Marnus Labuschagne scored 39. Saim Ayub added 38 runs and Kusal Perera contributed 37, helping their side set a challenging target of 187.

For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim claimed 2 wickets, while Chris Green, Richard Gleeson, and Faheem Ashraf took one wicket each.

In reply, Islamabad United fought hard but fell agonisingly short, finishing on 184. Mark Chapman scored 43, Devon Conway made 30, Shadab Khan contributed 22, and Chris Green added 21 runs.

Hyderabad Kingsmen’s bowlers held their nerve under pressure, with Hanin Shah and Muhammad Ali taking 2 wickets each, while Hasan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Akif Javed picked up one wicket apiece.

Hanin Shah was declared Player of the Match for his match-winning spell of 2 for 37, including a decisive final over in which he conceded only 4 runs when Islamabad needed 6 to win.

Earlier, Islamabad captain Shadab Khan had said the team that handled pressure better would prevail, while Hyderabad skipper Marnus Labuschagne had expressed confidence in his side’s preparation for all conditions.