LAHORE – An all-round performance by Aaron Hardie powered Peshawar Zalmi to a five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, securing their second title at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target, Zalmi endured a disastrous start, losing both openers in the very first over. Mohammad Haris scored six before departing, while captain Babar Azam — the tournament’s top scorer — was gone first ball, caught behind.
Kusal Mendis and Hardie attempted to stabilise the innings, taking the score to 33, but Mendis, the second-highest run-getter of the season, fell for nine to leave Zalmi in further trouble. Michael Bracewell also departed cheaply as Zalmi slumped to 40 for four within the powerplay, placing the Kingsmen firmly in control.
Hardie and Samad Turn the Tide
With the innings in jeopardy, Hardie found support in Abdul Samad, and the pair stitched together a crucial partnership to revive the chase. The duo batted with composure, rotating the strike effectively while dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary.
Their match-defining 85-run partnership flipped the contest. Samad fell for a fluent 48 — laced with four sixes and three fours — with victory within touching distance. Hardie finished the job clinically, sealing the chase with 28 balls remaining to crown Zalmi champions once again — their first title since 2017.
Aaron Hardie, who scored a clinical 58 and claimed four wickets earlier in the match, was named Player of the Match for his decisive all-round display.
Kingsmen Bowled Out for 129
Earlier, despite Saim Ayub’s fighting 54, Kingsmen managed only a modest 129 against Zalmi in the high-pressure final. Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and opted to field — a decision that paid early dividends as in-form Maaz Sadaqat fell in the second over after scoring 11.
Captain Marnus Labuschagne then joined Ayub, and together they took the score past 50 in the fifth over. However, just as the Kingsmen appeared to settle, Labuschagne was dismissed for 20.
The innings suffered another setback when their leading batter Usman Khan, who had scored 389 runs in the tournament before the final, was bowled by Sufiyan Muqeem for just eight.
Dramatic Collapse
What followed was a dramatic collapse as Kingsmen, after reaching 71 for two, lost four wickets for just one run, paying the price for poor running between the wickets. Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Niazi, and Kusal Perera all departed in quick succession, leaving the side reeling at 73 for six.
Hassan Khan and Ayub briefly steadied the innings, taking the total to 90, but Aaron Hardie struck again to end Hassan’s stay. Shortly afterwards, Naheed Rana removed Hunain Shah for nine.
Ayub, however, continued his lone resistance and brought up a fighting half-century, scoring 54 off 50 balls, before his innings ended when Hardie claimed his third wicket. Kingsmen were eventually bowled out for 129 in 18 overs. Hardie was the standout bowler, finishing with four wickets for 27 runs, while Naheed Rana picked up two wickets.
Prime Minister Graces the Final
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at Gaddafi Stadium to witness the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and graced the occasion. The prime minister, accompanied by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, met players of both teams and exchanged handshakes ahead of the match.
Before the start of play, the premier and the PCB chairman also posed for a photograph with the captains of the two finalist sides. The premier appreciated the hard work and dedication of both teams in reaching the final and extended his best wishes for the contest.
Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Rana Mubashir Iqbal, along with Special Assistant Talha Burki, were also present on the occasion.
Analysis: Hardie’s Heroics
Aaron Hardie’s all-round performance — 4 for 27 with the ball and an unbeaten 58 with the bat — was one of the finest in PSL final history. When Zalmi were 40 for 4, the match seemed lost. Hardie’s partnership with Abdul Samad (85 runs) turned the game entirely.
Saim Ayub’s 54 off 50 balls was a fighting knock, but he had no support. The Kingsmen’s collapse from 71 for 2 to 73 for 6 was catastrophic. Poor running between the wickets was their undoing.
For Peshawar Zalmi, this is their second PSL title, ending a drought that stretched back to 2017. For Hyderabad Kingsmen, making the final in their debut season is a creditable achievement — but the manner of their collapse will sting.
Aaron Hardie deservedly took the Player of the Match award. His all-round brilliance won Zalmi the trophy.
