By Alam Zeb Safi
KARACHI: Hassan Khan smashed an unbeaten 33 off just 16 balls and Irfan Khan Niazi chipped in with a 20-ball 29 not out to guide Hyderabad Kingsmen to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Karachi Kings at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday, marking the Kingsmen’s first win of the 2026 HBL PSL season.
Chasing a formidable target of 189, Kingsmen reached 189-6 with five balls to spare, ending their losing streak in a high-octane encounter that swung back and forth until the final overs.
Kingsmen’s chase began at a furious pace, ignited by captain Marnus Labuschagne, who hammered 26 off ten balls, including three fours and two sixes. The momentum was sustained by a 60-run second-wicket partnership between Maaz Sadaqat (37) and Usman Khan (27), which saw the visitors race to 76 within the powerplay.
However, Karachi fought back through Abbas Afridi (2-30), triggering a middle-order collapse that saw the Kingsmen slip from 96-1 to 112-5. When Kusal Perera fell for 17 in the 16th over, Kingsmen still required 50 runs from 29 balls.
Hassan Khan then took charge, striking two fours and two sixes in a composed yet aggressive display. Partnering with Irfan Khan (29 not out), the pair shared an unbeaten 50-run stand for the seventh wicket off just 24 balls to seal the historic result.
Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 188-8 after being put in to bat. The innings was anchored by a resilient 53 from Saad Baig, featuring six boundaries. Baig’s 50-run fourth-wicket stand with Azam Khan (26) stabilized the innings after Hunain Shah (3-19) had made early inroads.
Moeen Ali provided a late-inning explosion, bludgeoning 44 off a mere 16 deliveries. Moeen’s cameo was punctuated by five towering sixes and a four, as he added 55 runs in just 19 balls alongside Baig to propel Karachi toward a competitive total.
Despite Moeen’s heroics and Adam Zampa’s economical spell (1-27), Karachi’s bowlers could not contain Hassan Khan in the closing stages and he took away the game from the jaws of Kings.
Summarised Score:
Karachi Kings: 188-8 in 20 overs
Saad Baig 53, Moeen Ali 44; Hunain Shah 3-19, Mohammad Ali 2-35
Hyderabad Kingsmen:
189-6 in 19.1 overs
Maaz Sadaqat 37, Hassan Khan 33*, Irfan Khan 29*; Abbas Afridi 2-30
Result: Hyderabad Kingsmen won by four wickets.
Hassan Khan: Player of the match
