Kingsmen Beat Sultans to Reach PSL 11 Eliminator 2

Hyderabad Kingsmen kept their Pakistan Super League 11 campaign alive on Wednesday night with a commanding eight-wicket win over Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, ending the Sultans’ tournament run and moving one step closer to the final.

Chasing 160 in a pressure playoff fixture, the Kingsmen reached 162 for two in just 15 overs. The result reflected a complete performance from the debutant franchise, which first restricted Multan through disciplined bowling and then dominated the chase with fearless stroke play.

The pursuit began with an early jolt when captain Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 11 in the second over. Instead of allowing the pressure to build, Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat took control of the innings, attacking loose deliveries and rotating strike with confidence.

Usman produced a powerful 64 from 35 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes before being removed by Steve Smith. Sadaqat matched his partner’s impact with an unbeaten 64 from 33 deliveries, striking four boundaries and four sixes, while Saim Ayub calmly finished the job with 15 not out.

Earlier, Multan Sultans managed 159 for nine after being asked to bat first. Shan Masood stood firm through repeated setbacks and carried the innings with an unbeaten 69 from 46 balls, giving his side a total to defend despite a poor start and regular wickets.

Multan’s top order struggled to build partnerships as Steve Smith fell for 13, Sahibzada Farhan made 15 and Josh Philippe was trapped cheaply. Ashton Turner and Mohammad Nawaz tried to steady the innings, but the Kingsmen bowlers continued to strike at important moments.

Hyderabad’s attack shared responsibility effectively. Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali and Akif Javed picked up two wickets each, while Glenn Maxwell and Saim Ayub added one apiece, preventing the Sultans from accelerating in the final overs.

The win gives Hyderabad Kingsmen a major psychological boost as they prepare to face three-time champions Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 on Friday at the same venue. For a new franchise, reaching this stage in its first PSL season is already a strong statement of intent.

For Multan Sultans, the defeat marks a disappointing end to a campaign that had shown promise but ultimately lacked consistency in the knockout phase. Their inability to protect wickets early and defend a moderate total proved costly in a high-pressure match.

The spotlight now shifts to the Kingsmen’s next challenge against Islamabad United, where another victory would send them into the PSL 11 final against Peshawar Zalmi. Hyderabad will enter that contest with momentum, belief and a batting unit that appears to be peaking at the right time.