LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi secured a five wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen to win the Pakistan Super League season 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a brilliant all round performance by Aaron Hardie.
Hardie led the charge with both bat and ball, claiming four wickets and scoring an unbeaten 56 to guide Zalmi to their second PSL title. Consequently, the win ended a nine year drought, with their previous triumph coming in 2017. Moreover, it marked Babar Azam’s first major trophy as captain.
Chasing a modest target of 130, Zalmi reached the total with 28 balls remaining despite an early collapse. Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam fell in the opening over, while further wickets reduced the side to 40 for four. However, Hardie and Abdul Samad stabilized the innings with a crucial 85 run partnership.
Samad scored 48 before his dismissal, while Hardie remained unbeaten to finish the match comfortably. Meanwhile, Mohammad Ali impressed for Kingsmen with three wickets.
Earlier, Zalmi’s decision to field first proved effective as they restricted Kingsmen to 129 in 18 overs. Although Saim Ayub scored a steady 54, the batting lineup struggled after a middle order collapse. In addition, run outs and tight bowling further dented their progress.
Hardie dominated with the ball, finishing with figures of four for 27, while Nahid Rana supported with two wickets. Furthermore, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit contributed with one wicket each.
Ultimately, Zalmi delivered a complete team performance to secure the title. The victory highlighted their resilience, depth, and ability to recover under pressure in a high stakes final.
