Hyderabad Kingsmen Cruise Past RawalPindiz in PSL 11 With Five-Wicket Win
The Hyderabad Kingsmen continued their strong run in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) with a convincing five-wicket victory over RawalPindiz at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. The win further strengthens their momentum in the tournament as they climb the points table with improved consistency.
Chasing a modest target of 122, Hyderabad Kingsmen reached the total in 16.3 overs, despite losing five wickets during the chase. The innings briefly came under pressure after a mid-order collapse, but a composed partnership ensured the team stayed on track.
The Kingsmen had a shaky start when Maaz Sadaqat fell early for just four runs. However, Marnus Labuschagne and Saim Ayub attempted to rebuild the innings before wickets began to fall at regular intervals. Saim was dismissed for 15, followed by Usman Khan who departed without scoring, adding to early tension in the chase.
Labuschagne contributed a quick 32 off 21 deliveries, striking six boundaries before his dismissal further deepened the batting concerns. The situation worsened when Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for a first-ball duck, leaving Hyderabad struggling at 68 for 5.
Despite the collapse, Kusal Perera and Irfan Khan Niazi steadied the innings with an unbeaten 50-run partnership. Perera played a controlled knock of 32 not out from 24 balls, while Irfan supported with 34 not out off 29 deliveries. Their calm approach ensured the Kingsmen comfortably crossed the finish line.
Earlier in the match, RawalPindiz failed to build momentum after being put into bat. Their innings ended at 121 for 9 in 20 overs, with early breakthroughs putting them under immediate pressure.
Key wickets from Glenn Maxwell and Mohammad Ali disrupted the top order, while Hunain Shah further dented the lineup by removing Daryl Mitchell for a duck. RawalPindiz never recovered from their early setbacks and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
A brief resistance came from Yasir Khan and Sam Billings, but Mohammad Ali broke the partnership, further limiting scoring opportunities. Despite a late unbeaten effort from Asif Afridi, the total remained below par on a batting-friendly surface.
For the Kingsmen, Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah stood out with three wickets each, while other bowlers contributed crucial breakthroughs to restrict the opposition effectively.
The result marks another important win for Hyderabad Kingsmen, highlighting their ability to recover from pressure situations and finish games strongly in PSL 11.
