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Hunain Shah (Player of the Match): (On the victory) "First of all, all praise and thanks to Allah that he gave us honor and success. All the boys worked very hard. Everyone had the same mindset that we had to win this match. We had set a target for ourselves, that we had to do this, hit these boundaries, and finish it in these overs. Everyone was putting in effort towards that. Alhamdulillah.

(On defending 158 and taking key wickets despite some expensive overs) We had made a simple plan according to the pitch, just like we do in other matches. We wanted to bowl normally in the top areas. We were not trying too hard for wickets - the wickets would come on their own. We just had to bowl according to our plans. That is exactly what we did. Everyone was putting in effort. Every bowler who bowled had the belief that we would bowl well and do something good for the team."

Mohammad Rizwan (RawalPindiZ Captain): "(On the loss) We are obviously disappointed with this effort. Till Forrester and Amad Butt were batting, we were going for the target. However, once they got out, we thought that let's play some proper cricket and see where we reach. If they bowl is out inside 158 then they deserve to qualify and well, they did that.

(Did they try to help Lahore?) No, not at any point were we thinking of helping any other team. It was all about how we were going to fair out there. As I already said, we were going for the target initially. It was only in the second strategic break that I told the boys that let's play sensible cricket. Some 119 runs were needed of 30 balls so anyways we couldn't chase something so steep. Anyways, they deserved to win this contest and qualify. Unfortunately, it was not in Lahore's destiny to make it."

Marnus Labuschagne (Hyderabad Kingsmen Captain): (On putting big runs on the board and the overall win) To sum up what we’ve just done there, firstly, to lose the toss there, I was actually very conflicted at the toss, as I said, because I thought if we could do what we did in the first innings, that was the best way to win the game. For the boys to step up - Glenn had a quiet tournament up till then, to find that innings, and KP, Usman Khan, and then Hassan Khan to finish it off there for us to get 244 - it really kept us in it. We really thought we had a chance. We thought the wicket may have been a little bit of double pace there. Then it was just about holding our nerves. We know how those games go - you’re up, you’re down, they get a few boundaries, you feel like the dream’s over. You get a few wickets, the boys are too high, so just trying to keep everything calm. To be able to finish it off was really special."

"Where there is a will, there is a way". Hyderabad Kingsmen had been mauled in their previous outing. Today, they needed to win by an enormous margin to qualify for the playoffs and THEY DID! Perhaps, that is what this team will be known for — their resilience. Remember? Earlier, they had lost 4 matches on the bounce to start their campaign and still managed to turn things around. Hence, they cannot be taken lightly in the upcoming playoffs. 

Meanwhile, for RawalPindiZ, the other new franchise, this season was a nightmare. They could only win one of their 10 games and end up with the wooden spoon. What was disappointing was that even today, we did not see much of a fight from them — and that was their story throughout the tournament. Hopefully, they'll come back better next year. 

For now, the spotlight moves to the final league stage game to be played between Multan Sultans and Islamabad United. The result will decide who finishes 2nd and 3rd. Remember, finishing in the top two has its perks. Switch tabs to tune into that game. 

From here, this is Darpan Tikiya signing off on behalf of Manan Mehta, Dev Rajawat, Zeeshan Naiyer and Mohammad Anab. See you soon!