Maaz Sadaqat top-scored for Hyderabad with 37 runs, while Hassan Khan remained unbeaten on 33.
Hyderabad Kingsmen recorded their first victory in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 with a four-wicket win over Karachi Kings at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Saturday.
The result marked the franchise’s maiden win in their debut PSL season, ending a four-match losing streak against Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi.
Hyderabad Kingsmen made a lively start to their chase as captain Marnus Labuschagne struck a quick 26 off just 10 balls before being dismissed by Khushdil Shah in the third over, with the score at 36.
Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan then joined opener Maaz Sadaqat, and together they kept the momentum going with a rapid 60-run partnership off just 30 deliveries before both fell in quick succession.
Maaz Sadaqat finished as the Kingsmen’s top scorer with a blazing 37 off 29 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, while Usman Khan contributed a quick 27 off 13 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.
Their back-to-back dismissals triggered a collapse as Hyderabad lost two further wickets—Saim Ayub for six and Glenn Maxwell for two—slipping to 112/5 in 11.4 overs.
Number seven batter Irfan then steadied the innings, sharing a crucial 27-run stand for the sixth wicket with Kusal Perera, who scored 17 off 14 balls.
Irfan was later joined by Hassan Khan, and the pair held their nerve brilliantly, adding an unbeaten 50-run partnership to guide the Kingsmen to a hard-fought win in the final over.
Hassan Khan played a dominant role in the match-winning stand, scoring 33 off just 16 balls, while Irfan stayed unbeaten on 29 from 20 deliveries.
For the Kings, Abbas Afridi was the standout bowler with figures of 2 for 30 in his four overs, while Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Adam Zampa, and Salman Ali Agha each picked up one wicket.
Hassan was named Player of the Match for his impactful 33-run blitz.
Earlier, Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne’s decision to bowl first backfired as the home side posted a strong total of 188/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, the Kings got off to a poor start, losing Reeza Hendricks for just two runs in the opening over with only two runs on the board.
After the early setback, Salman Ali Agha (24) joined Muhammad Waseem at the crease, and the pair steadied the innings with a crucial 45-run stand for the second wicket. Their partnership ended in the final over of the powerplay when Salman fell to Hunain Shah.
Hunain struck again in his next over, trapping Waseem lbw for 25 off 19 balls, leaving the Kings at 59/3 after 7.2 overs.
Following the twin blows, Saad Baig and Azam Khan rebuilt the innings with a composed 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket, keeping the Kings in the contest.
However, Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne broke the stand by dismissing Azam for 26 off 19 balls, which included two sixes and a four.
Azam’s wicket proved to be a turning point as it brought stand-in captain Moeen Ali to the crease at No.6, where he completely changed the momentum with aggressive stroke play.
Moeen smashed a rapid 44 off just 16 balls, hitting five sixes and a four, before being dismissed by Mohammad Ali in the penultimate over.
At the other end, Saad Baig brought up his maiden PSL half-century but was retired out after scoring 53 off 37 deliveries, featuring six fours.
Hunain Shah was the standout bowler for the Kingsmen, finishing with 3 for 19 in his four overs, while Mohammad Ali took two wickets and Labuschagne claimed one.
About the Author
