Islamabad clinch playoffs berth with crushing win

Islamabad United sealed their place in the playoffs with a crushing eight-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in Karachi, completing the chase of 81 in just 6.4 overs to register the biggest victory in PSL history in terms of balls remaining.

Asked to bat first, Hyderabad folded for just 80 in 15.5 overs, the lowest total of the season and the fifth-lowest in PSL history.

Richard Gleeson set the tone with wickets off the first and third overs, removing Marnus Labuschagne and Saim Ayub. Shadab Khan then struck twice in one over and Imad Wasim chipped away regularly as Hyderabad slipped to 42/5.

Usman Khan was the only batter to offer some resistance with an unbeaten 25, as Shadab and Imad ran through the middle and lower order with three wickets apiece.

Islamabad's chase began with the early loss of Devon Conway, but debutant Mohsin Riaz made sure there were no further alarms. The right-hander smashed 42 off just 18 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, and added 79 for the second wicket with Sameer Minhas, who stayed unbeaten on 27. Mohsin fell in the seventh over but Shadab finished the job with a boundary two balls later.

The result made Islamabad the third team to confirm a playoff berth. Meanwhile, Hyderabad remain locked on eight points alongside Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings in a tight race for the final qualification spot.

Brief scores: Hyderabad Kingsmen 80 all out in 15.5 overs (Usman Khan 25*; Richard Gleeson 3-9, Shadab Khan 3-13, Imad Wasim 3-21) lost to Islamabad United 83/2 in 6.4 overs (Mohsin Riaz 42; Mohammad Ali 2-29) by eight wickets.