Marnus Labuschagne struck an unbeaten half-century to guide Hyderabad Kingsmen to a six-wicket victory over Islamabad United in the 21st match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 154, the Kingsmen reached 157-4 with 11 balls to spare, securing their second consecutive win after a difficult start to their debut campaign.
Captain Labuschagne anchored the innings with a composed 61 not out off 53 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and ensuring a controlled chase. He was supported by Maaz Sadaqat, who scored 30, and Saim Ayub, who added 35, as the trio laid the foundation for victory.
Labuschagne then combined with Glenn Maxwell for an unbroken partnership that sealed the result. Maxwell contributed a quickfire 21 not out off nine balls, accelerating the scoring in the final overs.
For Islamabad United, stand-in captain Chris Green and Faheem Ashraf picked up two wickets each but were unable to halt the steady chase.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen’s decision to field first proved effective as Islamabad United were restricted to 153-9 in their allotted 20 overs.
United got off to a promising start with a 56-run opening partnership between Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway. Minhas scored a brisk 22 before being dismissed late in the powerplay.
Conway top-scored with 45 off 31 deliveries, while Mohammad Faiq added 18. However, both were run out in quick succession, triggering a middle-order collapse.
Further setbacks followed as Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf fell cheaply, leaving United struggling at 113-5. Mark Chapman offered resistance with a fighting 42, but wickets at regular intervals prevented United from building momentum.
Debutant bowler Asif Mehmood led the Kingsmen attack with an impressive four wickets for 18 runs, including a decisive final over in which he removed three batters to restrict the total.
The victory strengthens Hyderabad Kingsmen’s position in the PSL standings, while Islamabad United will look to recover after a below-par batting performance.