Hunain Shah Holds Nerve as Kingsmen Seal Dramatic Two-Run Win
LAHORE: A high-impact half-century from Usman Khan, followed by remarkable composure from Hunain Shah in the final over, carried Hyderabad Kingsmen to a tense two-run win over three-time champions Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 of PSL 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
With this result, the debutant Kingsmen moved into the final, where they will face table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday at the same venue. The defeat ended Islamabad United’s campaign in the tournament.
Chasing 187, United stumbled early as Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz fell cheaply inside the first three overs, leaving them 15 for 2. Captain Shadab Khan then steadied things alongside Devon Conway, adding 42 runs before Saim Ayub broke the stand by removing Conway for a brisk 30.
Shadab struggled to accelerate and was eventually dismissed for 22 off 24 balls by Hassan Khan. After his departure, Mark Chapman took charge of the innings and built momentum with Haider Ali. The pair added 64 runs, with Haider contributing a quick 31 off just 16 deliveries before Mohammad Ali struck in the 16th over.
Chapman continued the push but fell for 43 off 26 balls in the 18th over, becoming Hunain Shah’s victim. Despite his dismissal, United remained in control as Faheem Ashraf and Chris Green turned the game with an aggressive assault, collecting 22 runs in the 19th over to leave just six required off the final over.
Defending a small target, Hunain Shah showed exceptional nerve under pressure, conceding only three runs in the last over to seal a dramatic victory for Kingsmen.
Mohammad Ali and Hunain picked up two wickets each, while Akif Javed, Hassan Khan, and Saim Ayub chipped in with one apiece.
Earlier, Kingsmen posted 186 for 5 after being asked to bat first, recovering strongly from an early setback. Richard Gleeson removed Maaz Sadaqat for a duck in the opening over, but Saim Ayub and Marnus Labuschagne rebuilt the innings with a steady 70-run stand.
Saim looked fluent during his 38 off 27 balls before Chris Green dismissed him. Labuschagne added 40, but a double strike from Imad Wasim in the 12th over — removing both Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell — left Kingsmen under pressure at 85 for 4.
From there, Usman Khan and Kusal Perera changed the course of the innings with a dominant 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Usman led the charge with an unbeaten 61 off just 30 deliveries, striking freely around the ground, while Perera supported well with 37 off 21 balls.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim was the most effective bowler with two wickets, while Faheem Ashraf, Gleeson, and Chris Green claimed one each.
