KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen stretched their winning run in PSL 11 with a five-wicket victory over RawalPindiz at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a modest target, Kingsmen got over the line in 16.3 overs despite losing five wickets, with key contributions from captain Marnus Labuschagne, Kusal Perera and Irfan Khan Niazi. The innings began on a shaky note as Asif Afridi struck in the opening over to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat for four. Labuschagne and Saim Ayub tried to steady things with a brief partnership, but Afridi struck again to remove Saim for 15, leaving the side at 28-2.
The pressure mounted when Mohammad Amir sent back Usman Khan for a duck, further denting the chase. RawalPindiz tightened their grip when Saad Masood trapped Labuschagne lbw after a brisk 32, reducing Kingsmen to 68-4.
The situation worsened when Glenn Maxwell fell for a first-ball duck to Ben Sears, putting Kingsmen under serious pressure. However, Perera and Irfan Niazi turned the game around with a composed partnership, guiding the team past the 100-run mark. The pair added an unbeaten 50 runs to steer the chase home, with Perera finishing on 32 not out and Irfan contributing a steady 34.
Asif Afridi took 2 wickets for 20 runs. Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen produced a disciplined all-round effort to keep RawalPindiz to a modest total. Pindiz struggled throughout and limped to 121 for 9 in their 20 overs, undone by a sharp pace attack and alert fielding.
Their troubles began early when Glenn Maxwell struck in the third over, removing Usman Khawaja for just two. Mohammad Ali soon made it worse, clean bowling captain Mohammad Rizwan for 15 that included three boundaries, leaving the side wobbling at 20 for 2.
The slide continued in the powerplay as Hunain Shah dismissed Daryl Mitchell for a five-ball duck. Hunain struck again in the 10th over, sending back Abdullah Fazal for 11 and reducing Pindiz to 41 for 4. Yasir Khan and Sam Billings attempted to rebuild with a steady partnership, nudging the total past 50 in the 12th over. But Ali returned to break the stand, dismissing Yasir for a patient 24.
The Kingsmen then tightened their grip. Saad Masood was run out by a sharp direct hit from Marnus Labuschagne. Asif Mehmood removed Sam Billings for a fighting 26, leaving RawalPindiz in deeper trouble at 97 for 7.
A brief flourish from Asif Afridi, who struck a boundary to push the total past 100, offered some resistance. However, Hunain claimed his third wicket by dismissing Mubasir Khan, while Ali capped off an impressive spell with the wicket of Ben Sears for a duck. Asif Afridi remained unbeaten on 15, with Amir adding just two runs.
