Hyderabad Kingsmen recorded a four-wicket victory over Multan Sultans on the back of Usman Khan’s magnificent hundred in a high-scoring PSL encounter at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi Wednesday.
It became a battle between two century makers, Khan and Multan Sultans batsman Steve Smith and this time the Hyderabad batter took the spoils.
Khan came to bat at a point when Hyderabad were in dire straits at 48 for three chasing a target of 214.
However, Khan (101 off 47 balls; 5x4s; 10x6s) counter attacked and he added a rapid-fire buttressing of the innings while putting on a partnership of 123 with captain Marnus Labuschagne (61 off 41 balls) for the fourth wicket to pull Hyderabad back from disaster.
Multan made a comeback into the game with back-to-back dismissals of Marnus Labuschagne at 50 in the next over, and Glenn Maxwell for just 2, before getting rid of Khan.
And, that was the point when Hassan Khan (24 not out off 6 balls; 1 four and 3 sixes) took charge to pull it through with a few big hits as his side chased home the existing score with three balls remaining.
Smith had earlier made a brilliant hundred (106 off 50 balls, 12 fours, six fours) with his opening partner, Sahibzada Farhan also getting an excellent fifty (66 off 43 balls four quartos and five sextuplets) before Multan closed at 213 for seven.
But it was not enough, as the Khan-inspired Hyderabad secured their 4th consecutive victory.
Hyderabad now move up to fourth with eight points from eight games following this victory.
The Sultans (12 points from nine games), in second position, would have progressed to the playoffs with a win on Wednesday.
They will get another opportunity to confirm the playoff berth on Sunday against Islamabad United.
Brief scores:
Four wicket victory for Hyderabad Kingsmen over Sultans
Stand Out: Multan Sultans 213-7, 20 overs (Steven Smith 106 off 59 balls; Sahibzada Farhan 66. Akif Javed 3-30)
The scores: Hyderabad Kingsmen 214-6, 19.3 overs (Usman Khan 101, Marnus Labuschagne 61, Hassan Khan not out 24; Peter Siddle 3-39, Mohammad Ismail 3-41)
Most Valuable Player: Usman Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen)