Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne said he was “lost for words” after his team secured a dramatic two-run victory over Islamabad United in Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) Eliminator 2 at Gaddafi Stadium.
Playing their first-ever PSL season, the Kingsmen had a difficult start, losing their first four matches. However, they staged a remarkable comeback by winning seven of their next eight games to reach the final.
Batting first, the Kingsmen posted a strong total of 186-5 in 20 overs. The innings was built around a crucial 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Usman Khan and Kusal Perera. The team had been struggling at 85-4 in 11.2 overs before the duo steadied the innings.
Usman Khan led the recovery effort with an unbeaten 61 off 30 balls, hitting 10 boundaries. His performance helped push the Kingsmen to a competitive total on what was described as a slightly two-paced pitch.
In response, Islamabad United came close to winning the match, needing just six runs in the final over. However, young pacer Hunain Shah delivered an outstanding final over, conceding only three runs and taking a wicket to seal a thrilling two-run victory for the Kingsmen.
Speaking after the match, Labuschagne, who scored 39 runs, expressed his amazement at the team’s performance. “I don’t have words to describe what we’ve done today. This team is definitely providing entertainment,” he said.
He added that the match had multiple turning points, with momentum shifting several times. “It looked like we were going to win comfortably, then it seemed like we were going to lose and go home. And then Hunain Shah came in and gave just three runs in the last over. I can’t describe what we’ve just done,” he said.
Labuschagne also praised the team’s ownership and squad, highlighting the trust placed in players throughout the tournament.
“Everything the ownership has done, the faith and trust they showed, and the way each player was selected for a reason, every person has contributed during this campaign,” he said.
He specifically praised Usman Khan for his match-winning performance after a slow start earlier in the tournament. “Usman had struggled in earlier games, but now he has turned things around. He played an outstanding innings on a challenging pitch,” Labuschagne said.
He also commended the bowling unit for consistently delivering under pressure.
“The bowlers have been fantastic, especially in the powerplay. Hunain Shah’s final over was exceptional. Even though he had an expensive over earlier, I felt that moment was building,” he added.
Labuschagne explained that having only four fielders outside the circle in the final over helped simplify their strategy. “It made things simple, keep everyone straight and focus on bowling yorkers,” he said.
Hyderabad Kingsmen will now head into the PSL 11 final with strong momentum after one of the tournament’s most dramatic wins, where they will face table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday.
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