Hunain Shah’s last-over yorkers seal two-run win, send Hyderabad Kingsmen into PSL final

Key facts

• Hyderabad Kingsmen beat Islamabad United by two runs in Eliminator 2 of PSL 2026 on May 1 in Lahore.
• Hunain Shah bowled the final over, conceding three runs and taking the wicket of Faheem Ashraf.
• Islamabad needed six runs off the last over; Shah's yorkers restricted them to 184-7.
• Usman Khan scored an unbeaten 61 off 30 balls, his third consecutive half-century.
• Chris Green hit 19 off five balls for Islamabad in the penultimate over, bowled by Mohammad Ali for 22 runs.
• Hyderabad lost four straight games at the start of their debut season but won seven of their last eight.
• Hyderabad will face Peshawar Zalmi in the final on Sunday, May 3.

A dramatic finish in Lahore

Fast bowler Hunain Shah delivered a nerveless final over to propel Hyderabad Kingsmen into the Pakistan Super League final with a two-run victory over three-time champion Islamabad United on Friday night at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Islamabad United needed just six runs from the last six balls, but Shah conceded only three runs and claimed the wicket of Faheem Ashraf to seal a famous win. The result sparked a pitch invasion by jubilant Kingsmen players as their debut season continued with a remarkable turnaround.

Shah’s yorker masterclass

Shah, the younger brother of Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah, executed a plan of bowling six yorkers, a strategy he later described as simple but effective. His first three deliveries yielded just one run. Ashraf then holed out to mid-off, and Shah bowled two more yorkers to Imad Wasim and Chris Green to deny Islamabad any chance of victory. Shah’s bowling style is reminiscent of his brother, and his performance against his former teammates earned him the spotlight.

Green’s late assault nearly turns the game

Australia all-rounder Chris Green smashed 19 runs off five balls in the penultimate over, bowled by pace bowler Mohammad Ali, who conceded 22 runs. That brought the target down to six from the final over. Earlier, Mark Chapman scored 43 off 26 balls and Haider Ali added 31 off 16 to put Islamabad within reach. But Shah’s death bowling proved decisive.

Usman Khan’s third straight fifty

Usman Khan remained unbeaten on 61 off 30 balls, his third successive half-century in the playoffs, lifting Hyderabad to 186-5. He shared a century stand with Kusal Perera, who made a quickfire 37 off 21 deliveries. The partnership set a challenging target that ultimately proved just enough.

Hyderabad’s remarkable debut season

Hyderabad lost four consecutive games at the start of their debut PSL season, but the new franchise engineered a stunning turnaround, winning seven of their last eight matches. That run includes two must-win playoff victories against Multan Sultans and Islamabad United. Captain Marnus Labuschagne said he had goosebumps talking about the team’s resilience.

Final showdown with Peshawar Zalmi

Hyderabad Kingsmen will face Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL final on Sunday. The match will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. For Islamabad United, the defeat ends their campaign at the Eliminator stage, while Hyderabad aim to cap their fairytale debut season with the title.

The bottom line

• Hunain Shah’s yorker-laden final over (3 runs, 1 wicket) turned a near-certain defeat into a two-run win for Hyderabad.
• Usman Khan’s unbeaten 61 off 30 balls was his third consecutive half-century in the playoffs.
• Chris Green’s 19 off five balls nearly snatched victory for Islamabad before Shah’s heroics.
• Hyderabad lost their first four games but won seven of their last eight to reach the final.
• The final on Sunday will pit debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen against Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi.