LAHORE: Hunain Shah successfully defended six runs in the last over, including four runs off the final delivery, as Jason Gillespie-coached Hyderabad Kingsmen defeated Islamabad United by two runs in Eliminator 2 to set up Sunday’s Pakistan Super League final date with 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi.

Chasing 187 for victory, United were in dire straits at 153 for six, needing 33 runs in 15 balls. However, Chris Green (21 not out) and Faheem Ashraf (19) collected 27 runs in the next nine deliveries to leave the three-time champions requiring six runs for victory in the final over.

Hunain conceded singles off the second and fifth deliveries after dismissing Faheem Ashraf on the fourth ball (the last ball resulted in a leg-bye) to end with figures of 4-0-37-2, as United finished at 184 for seven. The 22-year-old was under tremendous pressure bowling the final over after the experienced Mohammad Ali had conceded 22 runs in the penultimate over.

But Hunain kept his cool and bowled fast yorker-length deliveries that gave no opportunity to the batters to flex their muscles. Ali may have finished with figures of 4-0-44-2, but he remained Kingsmen’s strike bowler with 17 wickets. Hunain now has 16 wickets, while Akif Javed, who picked up one for 39, has 12.

While Hunain stole the limelight with his heroic final over, credit must also be given to Hassan Khan, who saved four runs in an acrobatic fielding display. After Faheem Ashraf’s hit off Akif appeared to be sailing beyond the boundary, Hassan flew like Spider-Man to keep the ball inside the field of play while falling over the boundary rope. What initially looked like a great fielding effort ultimately proved to be match-saving.

In their chase of 186, United were reeling at 68 for four in 10.1 overs before Mark Chapman and Haider Ali put them back on track with a 64-run fifth-wicket partnership from 33 balls. The stand ended when Haider (31, 16b, 2×4, 2×6) was smartly caught at mid-off by Glenn Maxwell off Ali.

Eleven balls and 19 runs later, Chapman, who scored a 26-ball 43 with five fours and two sixes, was sharply taken at point by Kusal Perera off Hunain, who later dismissed Faheem in the final over.

From the top order, opener Devon Conway scored 30.

Earlier, Usman Khan scored 61 not out, his fourth score of 50-plus in the last five matches, as he lifted Hyderabad Kingsmen to 186 for five after being sent in to bat. Usman had walked in with Kingsmen wobbling at 85 for four in 11.4 overs.

After Richard Gleeson removed Maaz Sadaqat in the first over and Imad Wasim picked up Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell in the space of three balls, Kingsmen looked down the barrel. However, Usman Khan had other ideas and signalled his intent on the second ball he faced when he pulled Shadab Khan for a boundary. A ball later, Mark Chapman dropped what would probably have been the catch of the tournament, providing the stroke of luck Usman needed, and he made full use of it by hitting 10 fours in a 30-ball knock.

His 61 came on the back of four outstanding knocks that rejuvenated Kingsmen. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter had scored 101 vs Multan Sultans, 25 not out vs Islamabad United, 54 vs Rawalpindi, and 64 vs Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1.

Usman played delightful shots to all parts of the ground, reaching his seventh PSL half-century off 24 balls with eight fours.

Usman received great support from Sri Lankan Kusal Perera, who contributed 37 in a 101-run fifth-wicket partnership from 50 balls. Perera struck two of the three sixes Kingsmen hit in their 186 for five. He also hit four fours before being run out off the final ball of the innings.

Earlier in the innings, Labuschagne and Saim Ayub had stitched a 70-run second-wicket partnership off 52 balls. Labuschagne scored a 32-ball 39 with four fours and a six, while Saim’s 27-ball 38 included seven fours.

For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim was the pick of the bowlers with two for 16, while Chris Green, Gleeson and Faheem Ashraf picked up one wicket each.

Scores in brief:

Match 43 (Eliminator 2) – Hyderabad Kingsmen beat Islamabad United by two runs

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN 186-5, 20 overs (Usman Khan 61 not out, Marnus Labuschagne 39, Saim Ayub 37, Kusal Perera 37; Imad Wasim 2-16)

ISLAMABAD UNITED 184-7, 20 overs (Mark Chapman 43, Haider Ali 31, Devon Conway 30, Shadba Khan 22, Chris Green 21 not out, Faheem Ashraf 19; Hunain Shah 2-37, Mohammad Ali 2-44)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen)

SUNDAY’S FIXTURE (final) – Peshawar Zalmi vs Hyderabad Kingsmen, Lahore