Hyderabad Kingsmen beat Islamabad United by two runs in the PSL eliminator in Lahore to reach the final in their debut season. Hunain Shah defended six runs in the final over and sealed the result under pressure.
Hyderabad posted 186 for five after choosing to bat. Usman Khan led the innings with 61 from 30 balls, hitting ten fours. Marnus Labuschagne scored 39, while Saim Ayub made 38 and Kusal Perera added 37. Imad Wasim took two wickets for Islamabad.
Islamabad chased hard and took control late in the innings. They needed 28 from the last two overs. Mohammad Ali conceded 22 in the 19th over as Faheem Ashraf attacked with two fours and a six to shift momentum.
Hunain returned for the final over after conceding 13 in his previous one. He started with a dot ball and forced a single from the second delivery. He then hit a yorker that beat Faheem and built pressure with three balls left.
Faheem tried to clear long-off on the fourth ball but found the fielder. Hunain followed with two more yorkers and allowed only two singles. Islamabad finished on 184 and fell short by two runs.
Hasan Khan produced a key moment in the field in the 17th over. He leapt at midwicket and flicked the ball back inside the rope to save four runs off Aqif Javed’s hit. That effort proved decisive in a tight finish.
Mark Chapman scored 43 from 26 balls for Islamabad, while Haider Ali made 31 and Devon Conway added 30. Hunain and Mohammad Ali took two wickets each for Hyderabad.
Hyderabad will face Peshawar Zalmi in the final as they continue a run that has brought seven wins from eight matches after losing their first four.
