Hunain's clutch 20th over sends Hyderabad Kingsmen into PSL final
Earlier, Usman Khan's 61 had set Islamabad United a competitive target of 186
Earlier, Usman Khan's 61 had set Islamabad United a competitive target of 186
Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: Rvel Zahid
Hope to see you for the final! Until then, this is Rvel Zahid saying goodbye on behalf of our whole team at ESPNcricinfo
Marnus Labuschagne, Hyderabad Kingsmen Captain: I don't have words to describe what we've done today. I mean, this team; we're providing entertainment, that's for sure. It looked like we were going to win relatively comfortably and then we don't and then all of a sudden it looks like it's over; we pack our bags and we're going home. And then Hunain Shah steps in and goes for, what, three in the last over to win the game, with four fielders out. I can't describe what we've just done. We've become that team and I've got goosebumps just talking about it. Everything - the ownership - I've said this numerous times but everything they've put in, the faith, the trust, hand-selecting each person in this squad for a reason that might not have been clear from the outside⊠every person has shown their skill in spades over the tournament. I keep coming back to Usman Khan- eight games he was struggling and then all of a sudden he's pulled this back: 66 off 30 on a wicket we felt was a bit two-paced. We were talking about 170-180 out there and he played unbelievably. And then the bowlers, once again, getting those breakthroughs in the powerplay; I mean, they've been fantastic. We've spoken about this before but Hunain Shah bowled an over that was expensive and I just knew that moment was building. I think it was actually perfect that we only had four fielders out because it made it simple; have everyone straight and just try to bowl six yorkers. So yeah, I don't really know what else to say
Hunain Shah, Player of the match: Wanted to keep belief in my abilities, thought if we got Faheem out, the job would be easier for us. Focus was on execution. When I came to bowl the last over, I told Marnus we don't have margin, I will bowl six yorkers and went with the plan. Feeling really good, thanks to God. Different players have stepped up and won Player of the Match and that has been the reason for our success
Shadab Khan, Islamabad United Captain: Death bowling was a concern and I think we conceded 10 to 15 extra runs. We lost wickets at crucial times. I think I should have batted a bit better and taken momentum. Whenever we got some momentum, we lost a wicket. It was a bit of a mind game and we could have read the situation a little better in the end. It was a good tournament for us. We knew Sameer is an exceptional talent and for him to perform at this level is remarkable. Our three spinners bowled really well throughout the tournament. Yes, sad we didn't make it to the final but the team which played better deserves to be in the final
'Win the first ball of an over' - Hunain Shah on his secrets to PSL domination
Lowest target successfully defended in the last over in PSL history
Bowler Date. Team Opposition Runs Defended Mohammad Sami 24-02-2017 Islamabad United Quetta Gladiators. 5 Usman Shinwari 10-03-2019 Karachi Kings Quetta Gladiators 5 Hunain Shah 01-05-2026. Hyderabad Kingsmen Islamabad United. 6
That unadulterated raw emotion from Hunain is a sight to behold; just shows how much it means to him. He was calm and didn't waver, exhibiting high self-efficacy and bowling those yorkers with pinpoint accuracy...
It was a long, fierce battle where both teams kept fighting tooth and nail till the end. There were countless twists and turns, with nobody willing to give up right till the last delivery. And when it looked like Islamabad had done enough to get over the line, Hunain did the unthinkable; saving six runs in the final over, that too with one less fielder in the outer ring. That is the stuff of legends. Saim, Hassan and Hunain were terrific today with the ball. Earlier, Hyderabad found it tough to deal with the searing bounce and zip in the powerplay; in fact, both teams struggled in the powerplay. Marnus and Saim chipped in with handy contributions but the innings was going nowhere and needed a big finish which came from the man in red-hot form. Usman Khan was batting at another level, deflating batters with his improvisation and racing to 61 off 30 (struck third fifty in a row). Kusal Perera ably supported him, racking up 37 off just 21 balls Chris Green was the pick of the bowlers and spinners dominated for Islamabad. Islamabad faltered in their chase as Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz went back to the hut in single figures. Devon Conway looked good for his 30 but got out at the wrong time. Shadab Khan played at just under a run a ball and added 22 but then came the real turnaround as March Chapman slammed 43 off 26 and his wicket gave Hyderabad a sniff. Haider Ali was superb on the day, but perhaps they needed one of those two to take them over the line. Faheem Ashraf and, importantly, Chris Green narrowed the equation and it seemed like they had done all the hard work to book another berth in the final. But then Hunain Shah was remarkable with his yorkers and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Excellent game of cricket;one for the memory vault
Ali: "My heart is pounding so hard "
Faraz : "I was about to write that in this PSL we've found some exciting young batters, but a quality death overs bowler is lacking. But my word, some death bowling this from young Hunain Shah"
Shadow-Shell: "Comeback after losing first 4 to reach the playoffs. Now comes back from a 22 over penultimate over to defend 6 to reach the final. Cinematic!!!"
Ehtasham: "So, Two of the test skippers are now clashing in the final. Both being pivotal to thier teams!!! Cricket is such an excellent Game!!"
Tahir Khan: "How can u do that Hunain, saving 6 runs in the last over of important Eliminator Match"
Hasan: "Remembering the 4 runs saved by a flying Hassan Khan on the boundary swatting the ball inside the boundary. "
Sohaib Jan: "Take a bow Mr. HUNAIN. WHAT an OVER. What a cool and calm mind."
Faheem Ashraf c Hassan Khan b Hunain Shah 19 (24m 11b 0x4 2x6) SR: 172.72
Hyderabad Kingsman captain on his team's remarkable run to the PSL final, after four straight losses
With United requiring six to win the eliminator in the final over, Hunain delivered a yorker masterclass as Kingsmen won by two runs
Earlier, Usman Khan's 61 had set Islamabad United a competitive target of 186
Sameer Minhas, still only 19, has been making waves at the age-group levels and now for Islamabad United in PSL 2026, and will now try to master his red-ball game
Playing for Hyderabad Kingsmen this year, Hunain talks about his strategy for yorkers, his learnings from Jason Gillespie, and what it means to come from a family of fast bowlers