Hyderabad Kingsmen pulled off a sensational 108-run demolition of Rawalpindiz at National Bank Stadium on Sunday, sealing the final HBL PSL 11 playoff spot and eliminating Lahore Qalandars on net run rate .Needing to win by at least 86 runs to qualify, Kingsmen delivered under pressure after being put in to bat. Despite losing skipper Marnus Labuschagne early, Usman Khan’s 26-ball 54 and Maaz Sadaqat’s rapid 28 off 11 powered them to 78 in the powerplay. A brief wobble saw Saad Masood grab two quick wickets, but Glenn Maxwell and Kusal Perera launched a counterattack with a 108-run stand. Maxwell smashed 70 off 37 with eight fours and three sixes, while Perera’s unbeaten 50 lifted Kingsmen to a mammoth 244-6. Saad Masood finished with 2-34 for Rawalpindiz. Hunain’s match-winning burst
Chasing 245, Rawalpindiz raced to 56-1 before Player of the Match Hunain Shah ripped through the top order. He removed Mohammad Rizwan (26) and Kamran Ghulam (0) in three balls of his opening over to trigger a collapse. Usman Khawaja fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 66, but found no support. Akif Javed sealed the deal with 3-38, including the wickets of Sam Billings (23) and Dian Forrester, as Rawalpindiz crumbled from 94-3 to 136 all out in 17.1 overs. Hunain ended with 4-22.What’s next
With the win, Hyderabad Kingsmen jumped to fourth on the points table and will feature in the first eliminator on Wednesday against either Multan Sultans or Islamabad United. The result officially ends defending champions Lahore Qalandars’ HBL PSL 11 campaign. Scores in brief:
Match 39: Hyderabad Kingsmen beat Rawalpindiz by 108 runs
Hyderabad Kingsmen 244-6, 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 70, Usman Khan 54, Kusal Perera 50_; Saad Masood 2-34)
Rawalpindiz 136 all out, 17.1 overs (Usman Khawaja 66_, Mohammad Rizwan 26; Hunain Shah 4-22, Akif Javed 3-38)
Player of the Match: Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen)