Perera and Irfan clinch hat-trick of wins as Rawalpindiz sink to sixth defeat
By Nawaz Gohar ; Hyderabad Kingsmen secured their third consecutive victory in HBL PSL 11, defeating a struggling Rawalpindiz side by five wickets at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday. While the day was marked by the solemnity of Breast Cancer Awareness, the action on the pitch was electric, as Hyderabad surged to fourth in the standings while condemning Rawalpindiz to their sixth loss of a dismal campaign. Chasing a modest 122 for victory, Hyderabad found themselves in a self-inflicted quagmire at 69 for five within the first 10 overs. The chase, which initially seemed a formality, turned precarious as Ben Sears and Asif Afridi tore through the top order. However, Kusal Perera and the resilient Muhammad Irfan Khan orchestrated a masterclass in pressure management. The pair shared an unbroken 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket, blending strike rotation with calculated aggression. Irfan Khan’s authoritative six off Mohammad Amir in the 14th over signaled the end of any Rawalpindiz resistance. Perera (32* off 28) and Irfan (34* off 26) eventually coasted to the target with 21 balls to spare, showcasing the depth of the Kingsmen’s batting arsenal. Earlier, the Kingsmen’s decision to bowl first paid immediate dividends. The bowling unit, led by the fiery duo of Mohammad Ali (3-21) and Player of the Match Hunain Shah (3-18), squeezed the life out of the Rawalpindiz innings. A significant moment of history was etched in the third over when the legendary Glenn Maxwell cleaned up Usman Khawaja to claim his 200th T20 wicket. The Rawalpindiz batting lineup never recovered from the early jolts, slumping to a wretched 41 for four within the first half of their innings. Saim Ayub, despite going wicketless, was the epitome of control, conceding a measly 14 runs in his four-over spell. For Rawalpindiz, Sam Billings (26) and Yasir Khan (24) attempted a sluggish rebuild, but the lack of intent was glaring. A late cameo from Asif Afridi (15 off 10) helped the side limp to 121 for nine—a total that proved far too lean on a competitive Karachi surface. The Kingsmen’s chase wasn’t without drama. Asif Afridi’s opening spell (2-20) removed Maaz Sadaqat and the dangerous Saim Ayub early. Skipper Marnus Labuschagne appeared to be in a different league, racing to 32 off just 21 balls with six elegant boundaries, before a successful Rawalpindiz review saw him adjudged LBW. When Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for a golden duck by Ben Sears, the stadium sensed an upset, but Perera and Irfan ensured there would be no late-night heartbreak for the Hyderabad faithful. Brief Scores ; Hyderabad Kingsmen: 123-5, 16.3 overs (Muhammad Irfan Khan 34*, Marnus Labuschagne 32, Kusal Perera 32*; Asif Afridi 2-20, Ben Sears 1-22) beat Rawalpindiz: 121-9, 20 overs (Sam Billings 26, Yasir Khan 24; Hunain Shah 3-18, Mohammad Ali 3-21, Glenn Maxwell 1-19) by 5 wickets
