Usman’s trailblazing 101 powers Kingsmen to sensational win over Sultans

It was Usman Khan’s show tonight in the 33rd match of the HBL PSL 2026 between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans, as his breathtaking 101 rescued the former’s ship in a contest they looked destined to lose.

In a game of fluctuating fortunes, full of twists, turns, tons of runs and batting onslaught, it was Usman who made Wednesday night a fascinating one for the Kingsmen, scoring a record fourth PSL ton to help them chase down a massive 214 by four wickets at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

And now, the debutants Kingsmen are proving to be in complete contrast to their counterpart debutant side Rawalpindiz, who have lost all eight of their matches. With their fourth successive win, the Marnus Labuschagne-led side have jumped to fourth position on the PSL 11 points table, with four wins and as many losses in eight matches.

Apart from Usman, the crucial quick-fire cameo of 24 runs from just six balls from Hassan Khan also proved pivotal, as he smacked three sixes and a four to help Hyderabad get over the line in 19.3 overs.

The Kingsmen got off to a dismal start to their innings as they lost Maaz Sadaqat (seven) in the second over with just 13 runs on the board. Saim Ayub was dismissed for five, and Kusal Perera for zero, and Hydrabd were reduced to 48-3.

The back-to-back dismissals paved the way for Usman to walk out, and although he would have been caught behind on the first delivery had Sultans appealed, he turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting.

Usman shared a 123-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Marnus Labuschagne, during which both batters brought up their half-centuries.

Pacer Peter Siddle broke the partnership in the 16th over by dismissing Labuschagne for 61, while Usman continued his onslaught and brought up his well-deserved century on the final delivery of the 17th over.

However, Siddle caused a break by dismissing Glenn Maxwell for a century and centurion Usman in the pulsating 18th over, but after him, Hassan took charge.

Following Usman's dismissal, Kingsmen required a further 26 off 12 deliveries, and Hassan Khan's blazing 24-run cameo steered them over the line with three balls to spare.

Wasim handed that momentum right back, getting hit for 18 runs in the 19th over with Irfan Khan launching a six on the first ball and Hassan a six and a four on the third and the fourth ball, to reduce the equation down to eight in the last over.

Yet again, it was Hassan who orbited Ismail’s slower ball towards the midwicket region to seal the deal for Hyderabad with three balls to spare.

For Sultans, Siddle and Ismail took three wickets each, but conceded the economy of 9.75 and 11.71.

Smith smashes maiden PSL hundred

Batting first, Sultans rode on a blistering century from Steve Smith and a solid half-century by Sahibzada Farhan to post a daunting 213 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.

Their openers made full use of the batting conditions as Smith and Sahibzada Farhan dominated early on, stitching together a commanding 132-run opening partnership, with both batters reaching their fifties.

Glenn Maxwell broke the stand in the 13th over, dismissing Farhan, who scored a fluent 66 off 43 balls.

Smith continued his onslaught, adding quick runs alongside Josh Philippe and taking apart the bowling attack, notably smashing 28 runs in an over off Hunain Shah.

He brought up his maiden PSL century in style with a six before being dismissed for a superb 106 off 50 balls, laced with 12 fours and six sixes.

Josh Philippe and Mohammad Imran added late runs, scoring 19 and an unbeaten nine respectively, as Hyderabad’s bowlers struck back towards the end by claiming four wickets in the final two overs.

Left-arm pacer Akif Javed was the standout performer for Hyderabad with three wickets, while Mohammad Ali, Maxwell, Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah chipped in with one scalp a piece.