Labuschagne’s Hyderabad have become ‘that team’ as they pull off a miraculous win

Marnus Labuschagne has a habit of making his presence felt wherever he goes. And he does so very effortlessly (and sometimes, as his fellow players tell, annoyingly). He is as chalant as they come, which is why the visuals of him overwhelmed with emotions on Hyderabad Kingsmen’s stride to the final shouldn’t have surprised anyone. But it did. And not only that, but it also left a character like Labuschagne speechless.

“We’ve become that team”

Speaking on the sidelines of Eliminator 2, moments after Hunain Shah defended six runs in the final over, Labuschagne said he had a hard time believing what his team had just done.

"I don't have words to describe what we've done today. I mean, this team; we're providing entertainment, that's for sure," said Labuschagne at the post-match presentation.

"It looked like we were going to win relatively comfortably, and then we don't and then all of a sudden it looks like it's over; we pack our bags, and we're going home.

"And then Hunain Shah steps in and goes for, what, three in the last over to win the game, with four fielders out. I can't describe what we've just done. We've become that team, and I've got goosebumps just talking about it."

Come-from-behind victory

Islamabad were all set for an easy win after their middle-order batters, including Haider Ali, Mark Chapman, and Faheem Ashraf, went full throttle to take the game away from Hyderabad. Mohammad Ali conceded 22 runs in the 19th over, which nearly ended any realistic chance of their survival.

But then Hunain weaved magic to pull off the miraculous win. The game was Hyderabad’s entire campaign in microcosm. After losing all of their first four games, which rightly wrote them off, they mounted a comeback to win seven of the next eight games.

"Everything - the ownership - I've said this numerous times, but everything they've put in, the faith, the trust, hand-selecting each person in this squad for a reason that might not have been clear from the outside… every person has shown their skill in spades over the tournament," Labuschagne said.

Hyderabad will face Peshawar Zalmi, who have done nearly everything right this season. In some sense, it will be a David vs Goliath clash, but Hyderabad’s ability to transform into Goliath should never be downplayed.

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