Hyderabad Kingsmen End Losing Streak with Dramatic Win Over Karachi Kings
KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen finally broke their losing streak in style, chasing down a challenging 189 to defeat Karachi Kings by four wickets in the 20th match of PSL 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.
This win marked Hyderabad’s first-ever victory in the league after suffering four straight defeats earlier in the tournament.
The chase began aggressively, with skipper Marnus Labuschagne setting the tone through a rapid 26 off just 10 balls before being dismissed early with the score at 36. Usman Khan then joined Maaz Sadaqat, and the pair kept the momentum alive with a brisk 60-run stand off only 30 deliveries.
Sadaqat led the scoring with a fluent 37 off 29 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, while Usman contributed a quick 27 from 13 balls. However, their departures triggered a middle-order stumble as Hyderabad slipped to 112 for 5, losing Saim Ayub and Glenn Maxwell cheaply.
With the game hanging in the balance, Irfan Khan stepped up and steadied the innings. He first added 27 runs with Kusal Perera, who chipped in with 17, before finding strong support from Hassan Khan.
The duo held their nerve brilliantly, stitching together an unbeaten 50-run partnership to seal the chase in the final over. Hassan played the aggressor’s role with a fiery 33 off 16 balls, while Irfan remained unbeaten on 29 from 20 deliveries.
For Karachi, Abbas Afridi was the most effective bowler with two wickets, while Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Adam Zampa and Salman Ali Agha picked up one each.
Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 188 for 8 after being asked to bat first, despite a shaky start that saw Reeza Hendricks fall in the opening over.
Salman Ali Agha and Muhammad Waseem rebuilt the innings with a steady 45-run partnership before both fell in quick succession, leaving Karachi under pressure at 59 for 3.
A crucial 69-run stand between Saad Baig and Azam Khan then revived the innings. Azam scored 26 before being dismissed, paving the way for Moeen Ali to make a dramatic impact.
Promoted up the order, Moeen unleashed an explosive 44 off just 16 balls, hammering five sixes to shift the momentum. Meanwhile, Baig anchored the innings with a composed 53 off 37 deliveries, registering his maiden PSL fifty before retiring out.
Hunain Shah was the standout performer with the ball for Hyderabad, claiming 3 for 19, while Mohammad Ali took two wickets and Labuschagne chipped in with one.
