KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen maintained their strong form in Pakistan Super League Season 11 with a convincing five-wicket win over Rawalpindiz at National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a modest target of 122, the Kingsmen reached the total in 16.3 overs, though they lost five wickets along the way. Captain Marnus Labuschagne, Kusal Perera, and Irfan Khan Niazi played crucial roles in guiding the team to victory.
The run chase got off to a poor start when Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed in the opening over. Labuschagne and Saim Ayub tried to stabilize the innings, but quick dismissals—including Ayub and Usman Khan—left the Kingsmen under pressure early in the powerplay.
Labuschagne injected momentum with a quickfire 32 off 21 balls, but his dismissal at 68-4, followed immediately by Glenn Maxwell being out for a first-ball duck, shifted the pressure back onto the batting side.
The situation, however, was rescued by Perera and Irfan Khan Niazi, who stitched together a composed and match-winning 50-run partnership. Perera remained unbeaten on 32 from 24 deliveries, while Irfan contributed a steady 34 off 29 balls, ensuring the Kingsmen comfortably crossed the finish line.
Earlier, Rawalpindiz were restricted to 121-9 in their allotted 20 overs after choosing to bat first, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort by the Kingsmen.Maxwell made an early breakthrough by dismissing Usman Khawaja, while Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah dismantled the middle order with three wickets each.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Daryl Mitchell failed to make a significant impact, leaving the side struggling at 41-4.A brief fightback came from Yasir Khan, who scored 24, and Sam Billings, who added 26 runs.
However, consistent wickets at regular intervals prevented Rawalpindiz from mounting a meaningful recovery.The Kingsmen bowlers kept up the pressure throughout the innings, with Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah leading the attack, while Asif Mehmood and Maxwell contributed with a wicket each.
With this win, Hyderabad Kingsmen further strengthened their standing in PSL Season 11, demonstrating both their bowling strength and resilience in the middle order.