Kingsmen cruise past Rawalpindiz with five-wicket win in PSL 11

Hyderabad Kingsmen extended their impressive run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 with a comfortable five-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest target of 122, Kingsmen reached the total in just 16.3 overs despite losing five wickets, with key contributions from skipper Marnus Labuschagne, Kusal Perera and Irfan Khan Niazi.

The chase, however, got off to a shaky start as Asif Afridi struck in the opening over to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat for four. Labuschagne and Saim Ayub then attempted to stabilise the innings with a brief partnership before Afridi struck again, removing Saim for 15 to leave Kingsmen at 28-2 in 4.1 overs.

Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan fell cheaply soon after, dismissed by Mohammad Amir for a duck, further denting the chase. Labuschagne played a crucial knock of 32 off 21 balls, hitting six boundaries, but was trapped lbw by Saad Masood, reducing Kingsmen to 68-4 in nine overs.

The pressure mounted when Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Ben Sears, leaving Kingsmen in a precarious position.

However, Kusal Perera and Irfan Khan Niazi turned the tide with a composed and match-winning partnership. The duo added 50 runs, taking the team past the 100-run mark and guiding the chase with calculated stroke play. Perera remained unbeaten on 32 off 24 balls, including three fours and a six, while Irfan scored 34 off 29 deliveries with three boundaries and a six, as Kingsmen sealed victory in the 17th over.

Earlier, Rawalpindiz struggled with the bat after being put in, managing only 121-9 in their allotted 20 overs against a disciplined Kingsmen bowling attack.

The innings began on a poor note as Glenn Maxwell dismissed Usman Khawaja for just two runs in the third over. Mohammad Ali then delivered a major blow by clean bowling captain Mohammad Rizwan for 15, leaving Rawalpindiz at 20-2 in 4.2 overs.

Hunain Shah further tightened the screws, dismissing Daryl Mitchell for a duck before removing Abdullah Fazal in the 10th over, leaving the batting side reeling at 41-4.

A brief recovery came through Yasir Khan and Sam Billings, who stitched together a 21-run partnership to take the score past 50. Yasir contributed 24 off 30 balls before falling to Mohammad Ali, who was among the standout performers.

Rawalpindiz continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Saad Masood was run out by a direct hit from Labuschagne, while Asif Mehmood dismissed Billings for 26, leaving the side at 97-7 in 16.5 overs.

Late contributions from Asif Afridi, who remained unbeaten on 15, helped push the total past 120, but it proved insufficient against a steady Kingsmen chase.

Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah led the bowling effort for Kingsmen, picking up three wickets each, while Asif Mehmood and Glenn Maxwell claimed one wicket apiece to cap a dominant all-round performance.