Hyderabad Kingsmen set 81 run target for Islamabad United in PSL encounter

KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen on Friday set 81 run target for Islamabad United in the 36th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.

United captain Shadab Khan's decision to field first paid dividends as his team's bowling unit booked the new entrants for 80 in 15.5 overs.

Kingsmen got off to the worst possible start to their innings as Gleeson dismissed Maaz Sadaqat (zero) on the first delivery of the innings.

The right-arm pacer swept through their top order by getting rid of Marnus Labuschagne (five) and Saim Ayub (12) in his next two overs and brought the total down to 24/3.

Following Gleeson's early blitz was backed by the experienced spin duo of captain Shadab and Imad Wasim as they dismantled Kingsmen's middle and lower orders by taking three wickets each despite last match centurion Usman Khan's grit.

The wicketkeeper batter waged a lone battle for the Kingsmen with an unbeaten 25 off 35 deliveries, during which he struck only one boundary.

Besides Usman and Saim, only Kusal Perera and Asif Mehmood, 12 each, could amass double figures against a ruthless United bowling attack.

For United, Gleeson, Imad and Shadab bagged three wickets each, while left-arm pacer Salman Mirza chipped in with one scalp.

Playing XIs

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Saim Ayub, Kusal Perera, Usman Khan (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali and Asif Mehmood.

Islamabad United: Devon Conway (wk), Sameer Minhas, Mark Chapman, Mohsin Riaz, Shadab Khan (c), Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Chris Green, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson and Salman Mirza.