Labuschagne Points to Powerplay Issues After Kingsmen’s PSL 11 Defeat

LAHORE: Following a second straight loss, Labuschagne openly addressed the team’s struggles in the opening overs, a trend that has now become a major concern in their PSL 11 performance.

Reflecting on the defeat against Quetta Gladiators, the skipper admitted that losing key wickets early has made it difficult for the side to build competitive totals.

“In both games, we have lost two or three wickets in the powerplay, and that stems the flow of runs,” Labuschagne said. “Saim [Ayub] and Maaz [Sadaqat] are great players, and we know they will come good. The back end also needs improving.

“Through the middle, we have been good. Maheesh Theekshana was really good today and brought us back into the contest. The last two overs went for 28 runs, so we need to work out our options and get them right. But the only way is up.”

Fielding Lapses Add to Concerns

The Australian batter also took responsibility for a costly moment in the field, while remaining optimistic about the team’s preparation.

“On the fielding, I dropped a sitter myself. We are training really well, and the results will come off the back of that,” he stated.

Gladiators Build Strong Total

Batting first, Quetta Gladiators faced an early setback when captain Saud Shakeel was dismissed for a run-a-ball four, leaving the side at 21 for 1.

However, Shamyl Hussain steadied the innings with a composed 54 off 41 balls, including three fours and three sixes. He shared a crucial 89-run partnership with Hassan Nawaz, who contributed 53 off 40 deliveries before being run out.

The Gladiators eventually posted 174, setting a challenging target of 175.

Kingsmen Collapse Under Pressure

In response, Hyderabad Kingsmen once again faltered early, highlighting their ongoing Hyderabad Kingsmen batting collapse. Saim Ayub was dismissed for eight off four balls, while Maaz Sadaqat fell for a duck, leaving the team struggling at 17-2.

Despite efforts from the middle order, including a 48-run stand between Irfan Khan Niazi and Hassan Khan, the chase never gained momentum.

The Kingsmen were eventually restricted to 134-8 in 20 overs, handing Quetta a comfortable victory.