At a glance
- Hardie stars with 4-27 and unbeaten 56
- Zalmi chase 130 in 15.2 overs after early collapse
- Kingsmen fall short despite Ayub’s fighting 54
Peshawar Zalmi ended years of frustration in the Pakistan Super League with a composed five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen, powered by a standout all-round display from Aaron Hardie.
The Australian proved decisive on both sides of the contest in Lahore. He first dismantled the Kingsmen batting line-up with figures of 4-27, before anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls to guide Zalmi to their second title.
The target of 130 was reached in 15.2 overs with 28 balls to spare, sealing a triumph that had eluded the franchise since 2017. View the full scorecard here.
Peshawar Clinch PSL Title After Years of Waiting
Having set the pace throughout the group stage, Zalmi carried their momentum into the knockout rounds with authority. A commanding win over Islamabad United in the qualifier set the tone, and in the final they showed composure under pressure to close out the job.
Hyderabad Kingsmen, appearing in a final in their debut season, began brightly after being asked to bat. They moved to 71-2 shortly after the powerplay, with Saim Ayub leading the way.
Yet what followed was a dramatic collapse that shifted the entire match. Four wickets fell for just three runs in a chaotic passage, including two sharp run-outs engineered by Michael Bracewell.
Hardie Turns the Match with Ball in Hand
Ayub stood firm amid the collapse, crafting a patient 54 from 50 deliveries to push his side to 129 all out in 18 overs. His resistance ended when he became Hardie’s third victim, and the seamer quickly wrapped up the innings by removing Akif Javed soon after, leaving Kingsmen short of a more competitive total.
Despite the below-par score, Kingsmen made an early statement with the ball. Mohammad Ali struck twice in the opening over, removing Mohammad Haris for 6 and then Babar Azam for a golden duck. Further blows followed as Zalmi slipped to 40-4, briefly placing the contest in the balance.
Calm Chase Seals Memorable Triumph
Hardie then stepped forward once more, this time with the bat. Partnered by Abdul Samad, who contributed a fluent 48 off 34 balls, he rebuilt the innings with calm authority. Their 85-run partnership for the fifth wicket steadied the chase and gradually drained hope from the Kingsmen attack.
Ali returned to claim Samad late on, finishing with 3-38, but the outcome was no longer in doubt. With just five runs required, Pakistan Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf struck the winning boundary, confirming a long-awaited return to the summit for Peshawar Zalmi.
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