Hyderabad Kingsmen kept Rawalpindiz to a below-par total through disciplined pace bowling and sharp fielding in their Pakistan Super League season 11 match at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first, Pindiz were restricted to 121-9 in their allotted 20 overs courtesy of an exceptional bowling performance by Kingsmen’s attack.
Rawalpindiz suffered an early setback when Glenn Maxwell struck in the third over, removing opening batter Usman Khawaja, who managed two off five deliveries.
Pacer Mohammad Ali provided a crucial breakthrough by dismissing skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who was clean bowled for 15 off 16 balls after hitting three fours, leaving the side reeling at 20-2 in 4.2 overs.
At the end of the power play, Hunain Shah inflicted another blow as Daryl Mitchell fell for a five-ball duck, increasing the pressure on the batting side.
Hunain struck again in the 10th over, claiming his second wicket by dismissing Abdullah Fazal who scored 11 off 14 balls with a solitary boundary, leaving the team struggling at 41-4.
Yasir Khan and Sam Billings then combined to steady the innings rotating the strike and adding crucial runs to take the total past the 50 run mark in the 12th over.
However, Ali struck again to hand Pindiz their fifth blow as Yasir Khan was dismissed for a steady 24 off 30 balls, including one four, which also ended a 21-run partnership.
Kingsmen were quick to wrap up the innings as Saad Masood became the next Pindiz batter to be dismissed run out by a direct hit from Marnus Labuschagne after scoring 10 off five deliveries, including two fours.
Wickets continued to tumble for Rawalpindiz as they were reduced to seven down when Asif Mehmood struck to claim the key wicket of Sam Billings, who played a solid knock of 26 off 22 deliveries, including one four and a six, leaving the team reeling at 97-7 in 16.5 overs.
Asif Afridi then came to the crease and opened his account with a boundary, helping the team’s total cross the 100-run mark.
Hunain picked up his third wicket of the match, dismissing Mubasir Khan, who played a valiant knock of 11 off seven deliveries featuring two fours.
Ali was in top form with the ball as he picked up his third wicket, removing Ben Sears for a duck, while the first innings concluded with Asif Afridi unbeaten on 15, and Amir scored two runs as well.
Playing XIs
Rawalpindiz: Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Usman Khawaja, Yasir Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Abdullah Fazal, Sam Billings, Saad Masood, Asif Afridi, Mubasir Khan, Ben Sears, Mohammad Amir
Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Marnus Labuschagne(c), Usman Khan(w), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Asif Mehmood, Mohammad Ali.
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