In a gripping match at Gaddafi Stadium, the Hyderabad Kingsmen edged out Islamabad United by just two runs, securing their place in the PSL 2026 final against Peshawar Zalmi. Hunain Shah played a pivotal role, conceding only three runs in the final over, which allowed his team to clinch victory.
The Kingsmen set a challenging target, scoring 186 for 5 runs. Usman Khan led the charge with an impressive unbeaten 61 runs off just 30 balls. Despite a strong effort from Islamabad United, who managed to score 184 for 7 runs, they fell short in a nail-biting finish.
Mark Chapman contributed significantly to Islamabad’s innings, scoring 43 runs off 26 balls. However, as the match drew to a close, they required six runs in the final over to win. Marnus Labuschagne expressed his disbelief at the turn of events, stating, “It looked like we were going to win relatively comfortably and then all of a sudden it looked like it’s over (but) Hunain Shah stepped in… I’ve got goosebumps just talking about it.”
After struggling early on and finding themselves at 85 for 4 in 11.4 overs, Hyderabad Kingsmen showed resilience and recovered well to achieve their total. Kusal Perera also made a notable contribution with 37 runs off 21 balls.
This victory marks an impressive turnaround for the Kingsmen, who have now won seven of their last eight matches after initially losing their first four games. Their journey through the tournament has been remarkable and has set them up for an exciting final.
The upcoming clash against Peshawar Zalmi promises to be another thrilling encounter as both teams vie for the championship title in this year’s Pakistan Super League.
