MS vs HK: Hyderabad Kingsmen knock out Multan Sultans in PSL 11 Eliminator

LAHORE: LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen delivered a dominant all-round performance to knock Multan Sultans out of PSL 11 with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in Eliminator 1 at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

After winning the toss, the Kingsmen opted to bowl first and produced a disciplined effort to restrict the Sultans to a modest 159/9 in their 20 overs.

The Kingsmen pacers, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed, and Hunain Shah, made an early impact, rattling the opposition within the first five overs. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith offered brief resistance with a 28-run stand in 2.5 overs, scoring 15 and 13 respectively, before falling in quick succession.

The Sultans’ struggles deepened when Hunain dismissed Josh Philippe for 6 in the fourth over, reducing them to 36/3 inside the powerplay. Despite the early collapse, Shan Masood stood tall with an unbeaten 69 off 46 balls, but lacked support as wickets fell regularly at the other end.

Mohammad Nawaz contributed 19, while the rest of the batting lineup failed to build momentum. The Kingsmen bowlers maintained pressure throughout, with Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed, and Hunain Shah claiming two wickets each, while Glenn Maxwell and Saim Ayub chipped in with one apiece.

Chasing 160, the Kingsmen comfortably reached the target in the 16th over, losing just two wickets and sealing the win with 28 balls to spare.

The run chase saw an early setback as captain Marnus Labuschagne fell for 11 in the second over. However, Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat turned the game around with a crucial 92-run partnership for the second wicket.

Usman led the charge with a blistering 64 off 35 balls, smashing eight fours and three sixes, while Sadaqat anchored the innings with an unbeaten 64 off 35 deliveries. Saim Ayub added 15 not out as the Kingsmen cruised to victory.

With this win, Hyderabad Kingsmen advance to Eliminator 2, where they will face Islamabad United for a place in the PSL 11 final. Multan Sultans, meanwhile, bow out of the tournament.

The two sides had previously met twice in PSL 11, with each team winning one game.

Playing XIs

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, M Ali, Akif Javed

Multan Sultans: Sahibzada Farhan, Steven Smith, Ashton Turner, Shan Masood, Josh Philippe, Mohammad Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, M Imran Randhawa, Peter Siddle, Faisal Akram, M Ismail