KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen completed a comprehensive 5-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz in the 24th match of the Pakistan Super League at the National Stadium here on Thursday, chasing down a modest target of 122 with more than three overs to spare.
Hyderabad Kingsmen make it a hat-trick of wins! #HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #HKvRP | #GoPink đ pic.twitter.com/coGgUyJExS
â PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 16, 2026
Clinical chase seals easy win
RESULT in hand, the Kingsmen made light work of the target after their bowlers had earlier restricted Rawalpindiz to a below-par 121/9. Opening batter Maaz Sadaqat fell early for 4, but Marnus Labuschagne (32 off 21 balls, 6 fours) and Saim Ayub (15 off 11) stabilised the innings with a brisk partnership.
A brief middle-order wobble saw Usman Khan depart for a duck and Glenn Maxwell for a first-ball zero, but Kusal Perera (32* off 24) and Irfan Khan (34* off 29) added an unbroken 58-run stand to guide the Hyderabad Kingsmen home in the 17th over.
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â PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 16, 2026
Turning Point
The PSL contest was effectively decided in the first innings when Rawalpindiz managed only 121/9 despite Sam Billings (26) and Yasir Khan (24) showing brief resistance. Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah claimed three wickets each to strangle the opposition’s scoring rate.
Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne praised his bowlers for setting up the victory: “With a total like that, we knew we just had to bat sensibly. The bowlers did the hard work upfront.”
Rawalpindiz skipper Mohammad Rizwan admitted his side was outplayed: “We were 30 runs short. The pitch wasn’t a minefield â we just didn’t apply ourselves.”
