214/6 (19.3)
CR : 10.97
213/7 (20.0)
CR : 10.65
Hyderabad Kingsmen won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Usman Khan
101(47)
Moment of the Match: Usman Khan
Energetic batter of the Match: Hassan Khan
Maximum boundaries in the Match: Steve Smith
Catch of the Match: Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Smart wicket in the Match: Akif Javed
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: USMAN KHAN
Usman Khan (Player of the Match): (On his match-winning innings) “First of all, I thank Allah. Since the tournament started, my team has believed in me a lot. I even told them two or three times to rest me because I wasn’t performing, but they told me that whether I perform or not, I will keep playing. Alhamdulillah, today I performed, and the team won.
(On coming in at 48/3 with a high required rate) When I came in, the team was already behind in the Powerplay, and the required rate was above twelve. My plan was simple. Since the start of the tournament, our owner, Fawad bhai, has told us to play like lions, not like cats. So I started like a lion, and I want to keep playing the whole tournament with that mindset.
(On his clean ball-striking) I just wanted to back myself, attack positively, and play fearless cricket. It feels very good when you score a hundred and make records. I thank Allah for that. This is only the start of the tournament. Many matches are still left, and InshaAllah I’ll keep trying to help my team win.”
(On coming in at 48/3 with a high required rate) When I came in, the team was already behind in the Powerplay, and the required rate was above twelve. My plan was simple. Since the start of the tournament, our owner, Fawad bhai, has told us to play like lions, not like cats. So I started like a lion, and I want to keep playing the whole tournament with that mindset.
(On his clean ball-striking) I just wanted to back myself, attack positively, and play fearless cricket. It feels very good when you score a hundred and make records. I thank Allah for that. This is only the start of the tournament. Many matches are still left, and InshaAllah I’ll keep trying to help my team win.”
Ashton Turner (Multan Sultans Captain): "(On the 213 scored by Multan) I think we had a good score on the board. With what we assessed during our innings, we thought 190-200 is par on this wicket. You combine that with a pretty hard and fast outfield and small boundaries and then it didn't seem like par.
(Did they feel in control of the game?) Yeah we did think we had control of the game but then that is cricket. We are in a very highly competitive environment. The PSL offers great competition and there are some really good players across the teams. Today we had to deal with two really good middle order batters and they took it away from us.
(On good individual performances with bat and ball) Yeah it is very pleasing to have some really good performances across the innings. Today didn't go our way and I feel for the first time in this tournament we were put under pressure in a close game. Something for us to learn from and we will look to correct that before we take the field next time."
(Did they feel in control of the game?) Yeah we did think we had control of the game but then that is cricket. We are in a very highly competitive environment. The PSL offers great competition and there are some really good players across the teams. Today we had to deal with two really good middle order batters and they took it away from us.
(On good individual performances with bat and ball) Yeah it is very pleasing to have some really good performances across the innings. Today didn't go our way and I feel for the first time in this tournament we were put under pressure in a close game. Something for us to learn from and we will look to correct that before we take the field next time."
Marnus Labuschagne (Hyderabad Kingsmen Captain): (On the dramatic win and moving up the table) “I don’t have too many words for that. The whole game was pretty special. We saw two outstanding hundreds. First, from Steve, which made things difficult for us as a captaincy challenge, and then from Usman, which was incredible. A lot of credit goes to our bowlers in the last three overs. I don’t know the exact figures, but they didn’t go for many runs, and that was probably the difference in the game.
(On Usman Khan’s innings) He hasn’t had the perfect tournament so far, but the way he came out with confidence and clarity to take the game on was special. Akif Javed came in today and finished the innings really well. We’ve been trying different options in that role, and he delivered. We’ve shown a lot of trust in players like Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, and Akif, and today they repaid that faith. We shouldn’t forget Hasan Khan either. He bowled beautifully on a good surface and then finished the chase brilliantly.
(On backing Usman Khan despite struggles) He told me he thought he needed a couple of games off, but I told him he wasn’t getting any time off because I know how good he is. This team has believed in the players we have, trusted them, and now it’s paying off.”
(On Usman Khan’s innings) He hasn’t had the perfect tournament so far, but the way he came out with confidence and clarity to take the game on was special. Akif Javed came in today and finished the innings really well. We’ve been trying different options in that role, and he delivered. We’ve shown a lot of trust in players like Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, and Akif, and today they repaid that faith. We shouldn’t forget Hasan Khan either. He bowled beautifully on a good surface and then finished the chase brilliantly.
(On backing Usman Khan despite struggles) He told me he thought he needed a couple of games off, but I told him he wasn’t getting any time off because I know how good he is. This team has believed in the players we have, trusted them, and now it’s paying off.”
Another long day comes to an end at the PSL! We had a close contest at Lahore in the afternoon. It included a gun young bowler bagging a hat-trick. Just when you thought it could not get any more exciting, Karachi in the evening gave us an even tighter match. Two scintillating 100s and in the end it was cricket that won!
Another double header coming up tomorrow! RawalPindiZ vs Islamabad United in Karachi at 3PM IST (2:30 PM Local Time). Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings in Lahore at 7:30 PM IST (7 PM Local Time). Do join us for all the action.
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Dev Rajawat, Mohammad Anab and Zeeshan Naiyer. B-byeeee!!!
Another double header coming up tomorrow! RawalPindiZ vs Islamabad United in Karachi at 3PM IST (2:30 PM Local Time). Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings in Lahore at 7:30 PM IST (7 PM Local Time). Do join us for all the action.
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Dev Rajawat, Mohammad Anab and Zeeshan Naiyer. B-byeeee!!!