Kingsmen continue surge; Islamabad United cruise past Karachi in PSL double-header

KARACHI: A thrilling double-header in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 on Thursday delivered two contrasting contests, as Hyderabad Kingsmen extended their winning streak with a composed victory over Rawalpindiz in the afternoon clash, before Islamabad United dominated Karachi Kings in the evening encounter at the National Bank Stadium.

In the first match, played at around 2:30 PM, Hyderabad Kingsmen showcased a disciplined all-round performance to secure their third consecutive win, defeating Rawalpindiz by five wickets. Opting to bowl first, the Kingsmen bowlers put on a clinical display, restricting Rawalpindiz to a modest 121.

The early breakthrough set the tone, and the pressure never relented as both pacers and spinners chipped in regularly. Ali and Hunain Shah were particularly impressive, sharing six wickets between them, with Hunain finishing with outstanding figures of 3 for 18 to earn the Player of the Match award. Rawalpindiz struggled throughout their innings, with only two batters managing to cross the 20-run mark.

Chasing 122, Hyderabad Kingsmen did not have the smoothest of starts and found themselves under pressure after losing early wickets. However, skipper Marnus Labuschagne once again anchored the innings with a steady knock in the 30s. After his departure, along with Glenn Maxwell in quick succession, the match hung in the balance.

The turning point came through an unbeaten 54-run partnership between Irfan Khan and Kusal Perera, who both contributed valuable runs in the 30s to guide their side home comfortably with more than three overs to spare. The win further cemented Hyderabad’s rise in the tournament, while Rawalpindiz remained winless, continuing their disappointing run.

The action then shifted to the evening fixture, where Islamabad United delivered a commanding performance to beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets.

Chasing a target of 151, Islamabad United made light work of the pursuit, reaching the total in just 16 overs. The foundation was laid by an excellent opening partnership between Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway, who added 93 runs in the first 10 overs.

Minhas led the charge with an aggressive approach, bringing up his third half-century of the season. He scored a fluent 58 off 36 balls, decorated with 10 boundaries, before being stumped. Conway, on the other hand, played a composed innings, rotating the strike effectively while punishing loose deliveries.

After a brief hiccup with the dismissal of Mohammad Faiq, captain Shadab Khan joined Conway to ensure there were no further setbacks. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 43-run stand, with Shadab contributing a brisk 31 off 16 balls, including two sixes, while Conway completed a well-crafted half-century to take his team home comfortably.

Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 150 for 6 after being asked to bat first. Reeza Hendricks anchored the innings with an unbeaten 51, while Jason Roy made a solid 39 in his first appearance of the season. The pair added 62 runs for the second wicket after an early loss.

However, Islamabad United kept striking at regular intervals to prevent Karachi from accelerating in the latter stages. Shadab Khan and Richard Gleeson were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets each, while the rest of the attack maintained tight lines to restrict the scoring.

Despite a late effort from Azam Khan, who scored 34, Karachi Kings fell short of a competitive total, which ultimately proved insufficient against Islamabad’s strong batting lineup.

With this win, Islamabad United strengthened their position in the points table, while Hyderabad Kingsmen continued to emerge as one of the most in-form sides of the tournament.