Karachi witnessed a breathtaking night of Twenty20 cricket on Wednesday as Hyderabad Kingsmen pulled off a sensational four-wicket victory against Multan Sultans in match 33 of PSL 11, chasing down 214 with three deliveries to spare at the National Bank Stadium. At the heart of it all was wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan, who etched his name into the record books with his fourth PSL century — a gem that turned an improbable chase into a triumphant one.
Early Collapse Sets Stage for Usman’s Heroics
The Kingsmen’s run chase began in the worst possible fashion. Opener Maaz Sadaqat was back in the dugout by the second over with only 13 runs on the board, caught for just seven. The middle order then found itself under immediate pressure as Mohammad Ismail inflicted further damage — first removing Saim Ayub cheaply for five off 10 balls, and then, on the very next delivery, sending back Kusal Perera for a golden duck. At 48 for three, Hyderabad’s chase looked in serious jeopardy.
The Usman-Labuschagne Partnership that Changed Everything
That precarious situation, however, brought Usman Khan to the crease at number five — and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. Remarkably, he survived what would have been a caught-behind dismissal off the first ball he faced, as Sultans failed to review. From that moment, there was no stopping him.
Usman forged a match-defining 123-run stand with captain Marnus Labuschagne, a partnership that shifted the momentum so decisively that the Sultans’ bowling attack looked helpless. Both players reached their half-centuries during the course of the stand, with Labuschagne eventually contributing a composed 61 off 41 balls, featuring nine boundaries, before being caught off the bowling of fellow Australian Peter Siddle in the 16th over.
Usman, meanwhile, was only getting started. He brought up his record-equalling fourth PSL ton on the last ball of the 17th over — off the bowling of Mohammad Wasim Jr — to thunderous applause at the National Bank Stadium.
Siddle Threatens; Hassan Finishes
Just when the chase seemed well within reach, Siddle struck again in a pulsating 18th over, removing both Glenn Maxwell for two and the centurion Usman himself. The wicketkeeper’s unforgettable knock ended at 101 off 47 balls — an innings decorated with 10 sixes and five fours.
With 26 still needed off the final 12 deliveries, nerves were understandably frayed in the Kingsmen camp. But Hassan Khan refused to buckle, smashing a blistering 24-run cameo to guide his side home with three balls to spare. Siddle and Ismail shared six wickets between them for the Sultans — three apiece — but it wasn’t enough to deny the Kingsmen a memorable victory.
Smith and Farhan Give Sultans a Flying Start
Earlier in the evening, Labuschagne’s decision to field first looked questionable as Multan’s openers, Smith and Farhan, tore into the Kingsmen’s bowling from ball one. The pair combined for a 132-run opening stand that threatened to push Sultans well past 230, with both batters reaching their fifties in the process.
Glenn Maxwell eventually broke the stand in the 13th over, having Farhan caught at long-on for a fine 66 off 43 balls that included four sixes. Smith pressed on, linking up with Josh Philippe and continuing to punish the bowling — one over from Hunain Shah yielded a staggering 28 runs, during which Smith brought up his maiden PSL century with a maximum.
The right-hander was eventually removed by Hassan Khan in the 17th over for a magnificent 106 off 50 balls, featuring 12 fours and six sixes. Sultans suffered a further blow in the following over when in-form Shan Masood was clean-bowled by Mohammad Ali, leaving them at 188 for three and suddenly vulnerable in the closing stages.
Philippe added 19 and Mohammad Imran remained unbeaten on nine, but the Kingsmen’s bowlers produced a superb finish, claiming four wickets in the final two overs to restrict the Sultans to 213 for seven. Akif Javed was the pick of the attack with three wickets for 30 runs from his three overs, while Ali, Maxwell, Hassan, and Hunain each chipped in with one wicket apiece.
It was a match that had everything — big hundreds, dramatic collapses, a late collapse and a nervy finish — and in the end, it belonged to Usman Khan.
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