LAHORE: Tournament debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen secured their place in the HBL PSL 11 final after defeating three-time champions Islamabad United by two runs in a pulsating second eliminator at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
The victory sets up a high-stakes final against table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi at the same venue on Sunday, while bringing a dramatic end to Islamabad United’s campaign.
Chasing a target of 187, Islamabad United required just six runs off the final over with wickets in hand. However, young pacer Hunain Shah delivered a clinical final over, conceding only three runs to defend the total. United’s pursuit had been kept alive by Mark Chapman, who top-scored with a quickfire 43 off 26 balls, and a late 22-run cameo from Faheem Ashraf and Chris Green in the penultimate over. Earlier, Devon Conway (30) and skipper Shadab Khan (22) provided stability after an early collapse, but regular strikes by Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah kept the Kingsmen in the hunt.
Sent into bat first, the Kingsmen recovered from the early loss of Maaz Sadaqat to post a formidable 186/5. Captain Marnus Labuschagne (40) and Saim Ayub (38) laid the foundation with a 70-run second-wicket stand. Despite a middle-order wobble caused by Imad Wasim’s double strike, wicketkeeper-batter Usman played a blistering unbeaten knock of 61 off 30 deliveries. He was ably supported by Kusal Perera (37) in a century partnership for the fifth wicket that shifted the momentum decisively.
Imad Wasim remained the pick of the bowlers for United with figures of 2/16, while Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah claimed two wickets each for the Kingsmen.
The final on May 3 will mark the conclusion of the eleventh edition, which saw the league expand to eight teams this year.
