Hyderabad Kingsmen pulled off a dramatic last-over win against Islamabad United in Eliminator 2, sealing their place in the PSL 11 final.
What turned out to be a complete roller-coaster contest kept swinging between both sides, but Hyderabad held their nerve in the final over to knock Islamabad out of the tournament.
Match Overview
| Match | Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Islamabad United |
|---|---|
| Stage | Eliminator 2 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Result | Hyderabad Kingsmen won by 2 runs |
| POTM | Hunain Shah |
First Innings Hyderabad Kingsmen Fight Back to 186/5
Islamabad United started brilliantly with the ball, putting Hyderabad under early pressure. By the 12th over, Hyderabad were struggling at 85/4, with Islamabad dominating proceedings.
However, the game shifted when Kusal Perera and Usman Khan built a crucial counter-attacking partnership:
- Usman Khan – 61 (30)
- Kusal Perera – 37 (21)
Their aggressive batting lifted Hyderabad Kingsmen to a competitive total of 186/5.
Bowling Highlights (Islamabad):
- Imad Wasim – 2 wickets | Economy 8.00
- Chris Green – 1 wicket | Economy 6.33
Second Innings Islamabad’s Fightback Falls Just Short
Chasing 187, Islamabad United had a nightmare start, losing 4 wickets for just 68 runs. At that stage, Hyderabad looked firmly in control.
But the momentum shifted again with a powerful partnership:
- Mark Chapman – 43 (26)
- Haider Ali – 31 (16)
Just when Islamabad looked set, both batters fell in quick succession, swinging the game back towards Hyderabad.
Final Overs Drama Hunain Shah Holds His Nerve
The match reached peak drama in the final moments:
- 28 runs needed off last 2 overs
- Islamabad smashed 22 runs in the 19th over
- Equation: 6 runs required off 6 balls
At the crease:
- Faheem Ashraf – 19 (9)
- Chris Green – 20 (6)
Then came the decisive over by Hunain Shah:
- Ball 1: Dot
- Ball 2: Single
- Ball 3: Dot
- Ball 4: Faheem Ashraf caught at boundary
- Ball 5: Single
- Ball 6: Only single
A brilliant final over under pressure sealed the game for Hyderabad, restricting Islamabad to 184/7.
What This Win Means
Hyderabad Kingsmen now advance to the PSL 11 Final, where they will face Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday, 3 May.
Meanwhile, Islamabad United’s campaign comes to an end after a valiant fight.
Match Summary
| Innings | Score |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 186/5 |
| Islamabad United | 184/7 |
| Award | Player |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match | Hunain Shah |
Final Verdict
This match had everything early wickets, big partnerships, momentum shifts, and a nail-biting finish.
In the end, it was Hunain Shah’s ice-cold final over that made the difference in what will surely go down as one of the most thrilling matches of PSL 11.