Hyderabad Kingsmen storm into playoffs, knock out Qalandars in dominant win over Pindiz

LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen delivered one of the most emphatic performances of the season to secure a place in the playoffs, crushing Rawalpindiz by 108 runs and eliminating defending champions Lahore Qalandars from the tournament.

Facing a daunting net run rate equation, Kingsmen needed a near-perfect outing — and they produced exactly that.

After being put in to bat, Kingsmen piled up a massive 244 for 6, powered by a brilliant 70 from Glenn Maxwell and an unbeaten 54 from Usman Khan. Kusal Perera also chipped in with a fluent half-century as the batting unit clicked collectively at a crucial moment.

Despite losing captain Marnus Labuschagne early, Kingsmen maintained an aggressive approach. Maaz Sadaqat’s explosive 28 off just 11 balls set the tone in the Powerplay, while partnerships through the middle overs ensured the momentum never dipped. Maxwell, who had struggled for form throughout the tournament, rose to the occasion with a commanding knock, targeting the Rawalpindiz bowlers — particularly Mohammad Amir, who conceded 57 runs in his four overs.

Late fireworks from Hassan Khan further boosted the total, leaving Kingsmen with a clear equation: restrict Rawalpindiz to 158 or below.

Rawalpindiz began confidently, racing to 55 in the first five overs with Saim Ayub and Akif Javed attacking freely. At that stage, even the reduced target seemed within reach.

However, Hunain Shah turned the game on its head.

The young pacer struck twice in quick succession, removing Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam in the same over to derail the chase. He finished with outstanding figures of 4 for 22, leading a disciplined bowling effort that steadily chipped away at the opposition.

Usman Khawaja fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 66, keeping Rawalpindiz in contention for the required threshold. But wickets continued to fall at the other end, with Akif Javed, Hassan Khan, and Maxwell contributing crucial breakthroughs.

The decisive moment came in the 18th over, when Hunain returned to bowl a perfect inswinging yorker to Ben Sears, shattering the stumps and sealing the victory. Rawalpindiz were bowled out for 136, well short of the 158 mark Kingsmen needed.

The result capped a remarkable turnaround for Hyderabad Kingsmen, who had lost their first four matches of the tournament. Their qualification not only keeps their title hopes alive but also marks a stunning exit for last season’s champions, Lahore Qalandars, in the group stage.

From early struggles to playoff contenders, Kingsmen’s resurgence will go down as one of the most dramatic stories of the season.