KARACHI: Debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen revived their Pakistan Super League play-off hopes while ending the chances of fellow first-timers Rawalpindiz, as Islamabad United handed Karachi Kings their third successive defeat on Thursday.

Kingsmen won their third straight match after four successive defeats, routing Rawalpindiz by five wickets to break into the top four for the first time. This was Rawalpindiz’s sixth defeat in a row, ending their play-off hopes. To compound matters, Mohammad Rizwan has now lost 12 straight PSL matches as captain, including six defeats last year as Multan Sultans captain.

In the second match under lights, Islamabad United jumped to second position following a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Karachi Kings, who slipped to fifth after a hat-trick of defeats. United have played seven matches, however, while Kings have played one fewer.

Seventh-placed defending champions Lahore Qalandars return to action on Friday for the first time since April 11 when they face sixth-placed Quetta Gladiators. Both sides are tied on four points, though Gladiators have played one more match. Qalandars then play their seventh match against Rawalpindiz on Saturday.

In the match between the debutants, fast bowlers Hunain Shah and Mohammad Ali justified Kingsmen’s decision to field first, sharing six wickets equally as Rawalpindiz recovered to 121 for nine after being 74 for six in 15 overs.

Ali took the new ball and returned figures of 4-0-21-3, while Hunain bowled in the second half of the innings to finish with 4-0-18-3. Asif Mehmood, who had taken a four-wicket haul in his previous match, turned out to be the most expensive bowler, conceding 35 runs for one wicket in three overs.

Sam Billings was Rawalpindiz’s top-scorer with 26, while Yasir Khan scored 24. Mohammad Rizwan (15), Asif Afridi (15 not out), Mubasir Khan (11) and Saad Masood (10) were the other batters to reach double figures.

In reply, Kingsmen achieved victory for the loss of five wickets with 21 balls to spare. Irfan Khan Niazi (34 not out) and Kusal Perera (32 not out) added 54 runs for the unfinished sixth wicket off 43 balls to take their side home after Kingsmen had slipped to 69 for five in 9.2 overs.

Earlier, Saim Ayub (15) and Marnus Labuschagne (32) had put on 24 for the second wicket, while Labuschagne and Perera added 39 runs for the fourth wicket.

Later in the day, teenage opener Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway put on 93 runs for the first wicket off 60 balls as Islamabad United comfortably reached the 151-run target for the loss of two wickets with 24 balls to spare.

Sameer scored 58 off 36 balls with six fours and a six, while Conway scored 53 not out off 36 balls with 10 fours. Conway then added 43 runs for the unfinished third wicket off 21 balls with captain Shadab Khan, who remained unbeaten on 31 off 16 balls with one four and two sixes.

Earlier, fast bowler Richard Gleeson and Shadab Khan took two wickets each, conceding 22 and 28 runs respectively, as Karachi Kings posted 150 for six after being 77 for three in 10.2 overs.

South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks was Kings’ top-scorer with a 44-ball 51 not out with four fours, while Jason Roy scored 39 off 27 balls with three fours and two sixes. The pair added 62 runs off 40 balls for the second wicket before Hendricks added 54 runs off 45 balls with Azam Khan, who contributed a 29-ball 34 with three fours and a six.

Scores in brief:

Match 24 – Hyderabad Kingsmen beat Rawalpindiz by five wickets

RAWALPINDIZ 121-9, 20 overs (Sam Billings 26, Yasir Khan 24, Mohammad Rizwan 15, Asif Afridi 15 not out; Hunain Shah 3-18, Mohammad Ali 3-21)

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN 123-5, 16.3 overs (Irfan Khan Niazi 34 not out, Marnus Labuschagne 32, Kusal Perera 32 not out, Saim Ayub 15; Asif Afridi 2-20)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen)

Match 25 – Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets

KARACHI KINGS 150-6, 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 51 not out, Jason Roy 39, Azam Khan 34; Richard Gleeson 2-22, Shadab Khan 2-28)

ISLAMABAD UNITED 153-2, 16 overs (Sameer Minhas 58, Devon Conway 53 not out)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Sameer Minhas (Islamabad United)

FRIDAY’S FIXTURE: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators

SATURDAY’S FIXTURE: Lahore Qalandars vs Rawalpindiz

SUNDAY’S FIXTURES: Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans; Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators