Kingsmen Storm Into PSL Second Eliminator After Sultans Collapse

Hyderabad Kingsmen surged into the second Eliminator of the HBL Pakistan Super League after a commanding eight-wicket victory over Multan Sultans at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The knockout result, updated on April 30, turned into one of the day’s biggest cricket headlines as Hyderabad kept their late-season revival alive in emphatic fashion.

Set 160 for victory, Hyderabad completed the chase at 162 for two in just 15.2 overs. The innings was built around two powerful half-centuries from Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat, whose partnership changed the tone of the match after an early breakthrough briefly gave Multan hope.

Hyderabad lost captain Marnus Labuschagne cheaply, but Usman and Maaz quickly took control. Their 102-run stand came at a blistering pace and pushed the Sultans out of the contest before the final overs could create any pressure. Usman made 64 from 35 balls, while Maaz remained unbeaten on 64 and finished the chase with calm authority.

Maaz was later named player of the match for an innings that combined clean power with sharp game awareness. Usman also played a decisive role, attacking spin and pace with confidence, including a damaging over against Mohammad Nawaz that brought the required rate firmly under Hyderabad’s control.

Earlier, Multan Sultans struggled badly after being sent in to bat. Despite a fighting unbeaten 69 from Shan Masood, their innings never fully recovered from a damaging top-order collapse. Hyderabad’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals and prevented Multan from building the kind of total normally needed in a high-pressure playoff fixture.

Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed and Hunain Shah all picked up two wickets each, while Saim Ayub and Glenn Maxwell added further control with crucial breakthroughs. Multan were reduced to 52 for five inside eight overs, leaving Shan to repair the damage almost alone before the side reached 159 for nine.

The result is particularly significant because Hyderabad had looked out of contention earlier in the season after losing their first four matches. Their turnaround has now become one of the major stories of the tournament, with five wins in their last six league matches followed by a composed playoff victory.

For Multan, the defeat is a sharp disappointment. They entered the knockout phase after finishing second on the points table with six league-stage victories, but their batting failure in the Eliminator ended a campaign that had promised a much deeper run.

The outcome also reshapes the PSL title race, with Hyderabad now preparing to face Islamabad United in the second Eliminator on Friday. A win there would place them within touching distance of a remarkable final appearance, while their current momentum has already turned them into one of the most dangerous teams left in the competition.