LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen held their nerve in a last-over thriller to defeat Islamabad United by two runs in Eliminator 2 of PSL 11, securing a place in the final in their debut season.
Defending 186, Hyderabad Kingsmen came under pressure when Islamabad United needed just six runs from the final over. However, Haneen Shah delivered under pressure, conceding only three runs and taking a crucial wicket to seal a historic win.
Islamabad United, chasing 187, fell agonizingly short at 184 for 7 in 20 overs, with Chris Green unbeaten on 21 off 9 balls but unable to find a boundary off the final delivery when four runs were required.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen recovered from an early setback after losing opener Moaz Sadaqat for a duck. Saim Ayub (38 off 27) and captain Marnus Labuschagne (39 off 32) steadied the innings with a 71-run partnership. However, the quick dismissals of Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell left the side struggling at 85 for 4.
A decisive 101-run partnership between Kusal Perera and Usman Khan turned the innings around. Perera scored a brisk 37 off 21 balls, while Usman Khan played a match-defining unbeaten 61 off 30 balls, striking 10 fours at a strike rate above 200. Hyderabad Kingsmen finished at 186 for 5 in their 20 overs.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim took two wickets, while Richard Gleeson, Chris Green and Faheem Ashraf took one each.
In reply, Islamabad United suffered early blows, losing Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz cheaply. Devon Conway (30 off 25) and Shadab Khan (22 off 24) attempted to rebuild, but regular wickets stalled momentum.
Mark Chapman’s aggressive 43 off 26 balls and Haider Ali’s quickfire 31 off 16 revived the chase, but both fell at crucial moments.
With 41 needed off the last three overs, Islamabad staged a late surge, scoring 22 runs in the 19th over through Chris Green and Faheem Ashraf. The equation came down to six runs off the final over, but Haneen Shah’s composure proved decisive.
After a dot ball and the key wicket of Faheem Ashraf (19 off 11), Islamabad required four runs off the final delivery, but Chris Green failed to connect for a boundary.
Hyderabad Kingsmen’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, including key catches at crucial moments, played a vital role in the victory.
Islamabad United, three-time PSL champions (2016, 2018, 2024), suffered their first defeat in a PSL final-stage match, having previously maintained a perfect record in finals.
The PSL 11 final will be played on Sunday, May 3, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where Hyderabad Kingsmen will face Peshawar Zalmi.
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
