All-round Iftikhar leaves Hyderabad scratching for first HBL PSL win

It was Iftikhar Ahmed with the ball. It was Iftikhar Ahmed with the bat, scoring a crucial unbeaten 15 off 10 balls to help Peshawar Zalmi sail past the Hyderabad Kingsmen in what turned out to be a nerve-wracking HBL PSL 2026 last-ball thriller at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

But spare a thought for PSL debutants Hyderabad, who were almost on the verge of an unlikely victory on Wednesday night after their pacers helped them claw back into the contest despite Zalmi needing a run-a-ball 23.

Unfortunately, though, the venue change didn’t bring a change in fortunes for the Kingsmen, who are yet to register their first-ever PSL win, having lost all four matches.

“I think we got so close that it felt like the game was ours. Iftikhar played a nice shot in that last over and brought things back into their favor,” said Hyderabad skipper Marnus Labuschage after the match, while praising Iftikhar for his four wickets in the first innings and a crucial cameo at the backend.

Peshawar’s topsy-turvy run-chase

The chase began on a shaky note as opener Mohammad Haris fell for 11 after playing a loose shot off Maheesh Theekshana at the score of 17.

Babar and Mendis then stabilised the innings, forging a crucial partnership and guiding the team past the 50-run mark to lay the foundation for the chase.

After Mendis was removed by Saim Ayub for 27, Michael Bracewell joined Babar, and the duo stitched a crucial partnership. But once again, it was Saim who removed Bracewell for 25 off 19 deliveries.

Babar was dismissed on the final delivery of the 15th over as Hassan Khan ended his innings of 43 off 37 deliveries, which featured six fours at the score of 116.

Zalmi came under pressure when Mohammad Ali removed Farhan Yousaf for 15, while Abdul Samad was removed by Hunain Shah. The Zalmi still needed 21 off 17 balls.

With 14 required off the final over, Hunain Shah conceded the remaining runs as Iftikhar Ahmed finished unbeaten on 15 off 10 deliveries, including a four and a six, while Aamer Jamal chipped in with six runs to seal the victory.

For Hyderabad, Saim took two wickets for 19 runs in four overs, while Ali, Hunain, Hassan, and Theekshan took one apiece.

Spinners weave magic

With the tournament shifting from Lahore to Karachi, the Kingsmen hoped the new venue would prove fortuitous in turning the tables around.

However, Iftikhar had other ideas, as he ended up with sterling figures of 4-21 to help Zalmi rattle up the opposition for just 145 in 18.2 overs.

The 35-year-old produced a sensational magic in the powerplay to rock Hyderabad’s top order, picking up four scalps in his two overs that left them at 34-4 in five overs after a steady 26-run start by openers Saim Ayub and Maaz Sadaqat.

After being introduced in the third over, Iftikhar simply tore through the opposition’s top order, removing Saim and Maaz for 14 and 17, while clean bowling Sharjeel Khan for two and sending Usman Khan for a first-ball duck.

Skipper Marnus Labuschagne and Kusal Perera then combined to steady the innings and took the score past 100 before Sufiyan Muqeem dismissed Labuschagne for a run-a-ball 27.

Kusal Perera shone with the bat, scoring a 35-ball 58 before Sufiyan sent him back to the hut, with the score at 137-7 in 17 overs.

Sufiyan then removed Irfan Khan Niazi and Maheesh Theekshana for ducks to end up with figures of four for 32 in four overs, as Hyderabad were bowled out for just 145.