Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have been knocked out of PSL 11. Hyderabad Kingsmen thrashed RawalPindiz by 108 runs in a must-win clash at the National Stadium, Karachi. The emphatic victory took Kingsmen to 10 points in 10 matches and secured them the fourth and final playoff spot on net run rate. This means Hyderabad Kingsmen knock Lahore Qalandars out despite both teams finishing level on points. Lahore had kept their hopes alive with a big win over Peshawar Zalmi a day earlier.

Batting first, Kingsmen piled up a huge 244 for 6 in their 20 overs. Glenn Maxwell led the charge with a blistering 70 off 37 balls. Kusal Perera remained unbeaten on 54, and Usman Khan added a rapid 50. Their aggressive batting gave Hyderabad the platform they needed. But the job was only half done. To move ahead of Lahore, they had to bowl RawalPindiz out for 158 or less. The bowlers responded in style. Hyderabad Kingsmen knock Lahore Qalandars out by bowling RawalPindiz out for just 136.

The massive 108-run win confirmed Hyderabad’s place in the playoffs. The result also brought Lahore Qalandars’ title defence to an end. Lahore needed Kingsmen to either lose their final group match or fail to win by a huge margin. Instead, Hyderabad delivered exactly the kind of result they needed. The defending champions now watch the knockout stage from home. Hyderabad Kingsmen knock Lahore Qalandars out through a complete team performance.

Hyderabad will now feature in Eliminator 1 at Gaddafi Stadium on April 29. Their opponent will be confirmed after the final league-stage match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans. For Lahore, the season ends earlier than they hoped.