Karachi, April 26, 2026: Hyderabad Kingsmen delivered a dominant all-round performance to thrash RawalPindiz by 108 runs in a must-win Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 clash at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday, sealing their place in the playoffs.
Chasing a daunting target of 245, RawalPindiz were bowled out for 136 in 17.1 overs as the Kingsmen produced a disciplined and clinical bowling display under pressure.
The emphatic victory ensured Hyderabad met their qualification requirement — not only winning the match but also restricting their opponents to 158 or fewer.
RawalPindiz suffered an early blow when Akif Javed dismissed Shahzaib Khan for just 1 in the opening overs. Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khawaja attempted to stabilise the innings with a steady 43-run partnership, but Hunain Shah broke the stand, removing Rizwan for 26 off 16 balls.
Khawaja continued to anchor the innings, registering his second PSL half-century, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Kamran Ghulam was dismissed for a duck, while Sam Billings scored a brisk 23 before falling. Dian Forrester managed just 6 as RawalPindiz slumped to 102-5.
The lower order collapsed quickly under pressure. Saad Masood and Amad Butt fell cheaply, while a run-out by Saim Ayub removed Asif Afridi. Ben Sears was the last man dismissed for a duck.
Khawaja remained unbeaten on 66 off 43 balls, striking nine fours, but received little support from the other end.
Hunain Shah led the bowling attack with impressive figures of 4/22, while Akif Javed claimed three wickets. Mohammad Ali and Glenn Maxwell picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted a formidable 244-6 after being put in to bat, powered by explosive contributions from Usman Khan, Kusal Perera, Maxwell and Maaz Sadaqat.
Skipper Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed early by Ben Sears for five, but Maaz Sadaqat and Usman Khan counterattacked with a rapid 50-run partnership. Maaz scored 28 off just 11 balls before being dismissed by Amad Butt.
Usman Khan continued his aggressive innings, bringing up his fifth PSL half-century with a blistering 54 off 26 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Saim Ayub added a quick 12 before falling to Asif Afridi.
A brief collapse saw Irfan Niazi dismissed for a first-ball duck, but Kusal Perera and Glenn Maxwell steadied the innings with a match-defining 108-run partnership.
Maxwell was the standout performer, scoring a superb 70 off 37 balls, featuring eight fours and three sixes, before being run out by Sam Billings in the final over. Perera remained unbeaten on 50 off 30 balls, registering his fourth PSL fifty.
A late cameo from Hassan Khan, who scored 16 runs, helped Hyderabad Kingsmen finish strongly at 244-6 — a total that proved far beyond RawalPindiz’s reach.
