Lahore, May 1, 2026: Hyderabad Kingsmen booked their place in the final of the Pakistan Super League 11 after defeating three-time champions Islamabad United by a thrilling two runs in Eliminator 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
A blistering unbeaten half-century from Usman Khan and superb death bowling by Hunain Shah proved decisive as the tournament debutants advanced to Sunday’s final, where they will face table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi.
The defeat also brought an end to Islamabad United’s campaign in the eight-team tournament.
Chasing 187 for victory, Islamabad United endured a shaky start as Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz were dismissed inside the first three overs with only 15 runs on the board.
Captain Shadab Khan and Devon Conway attempted to stabilise the innings with a 42-run stand before Saim Ayub dismissed Conway in the eighth over.
The left-handed batter scored 30 off 25 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
Shadab Khan later added 11 runs alongside Mark Chapman before falling to Hassan Khan in the 11th over after scoring 22 from 24 deliveries.
Following the captain’s departure, Chapman took charge of the chase and stitched together a crucial 64-run partnership with Haider Ali.
Haider played a quick cameo of 31 runs off 16 balls before being dismissed by Mohammad Ali in the 16th over.
Chapman, who top-scored for Islamabad, made a rapid 43 off 26 deliveries, smashing five fours and two sixes before becoming Hunain Shah’s second victim in the 18th over.
Despite Chapman’s dismissal, Islamabad remained firmly in contention as Faheem Ashraf and Chris Green hammered Mohammad Ali for 22 runs in the penultimate over, reducing the equation to six runs needed from the final over.
Defending six runs in the last over, Hunain Shah produced exceptional death bowling, conceding only three runs to seal a dramatic two-run victory for Hyderabad Kingsmen.
For the Kingsmen, Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah claimed two wickets each, while Akif Javed, Hassan Khan and Saim Ayub chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted 186/5 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks largely to a brilliant fifth-wicket partnership between Usman Khan and Kusal Perera.
The innings began poorly when Richard Gleeson removed opener Maaz Sadaqat for a duck in the opening over.
Saim Ayub and captain Marnus Labuschagne then steadied the innings with a 70-run partnership for the second wicket.
Chris Green eventually broke the stand by dismissing Saim Ayub for 38 off 27 balls, an innings featuring seven boundaries.
Labuschagne later added 13 runs with Glenn Maxwell before both Australians were dismissed by Imad Wasim in the 12th over, reducing Hyderabad to 85/4.
Labuschagne scored 40 off 32 deliveries, including four fours and a six.
Usman Khan and Kusal Perera then transformed the innings with a superb 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Usman remained unbeaten on 61 off just 30 balls, striking 10 boundaries, while Perera contributed 37 off 21 deliveries with four fours and two sixes.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim was the most economical bowler, taking two wickets for 16 runs in his two overs, while Faheem Ashraf, Richard Gleeson and Chris Green claimed one wicket each.
