Peshawar Zalmi win PSL 11 title as Aaron Hardie delivers match-winning all-round performance
By Bilal Haider :
Peshawar Zalmi secured their second Pakistan Super League title with a composed five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, ending a nine-year wait for silverware.
The win marks a significant milestone for Zalmi, who last lifted the trophy in 2017 under the captaincy of Darren Sammy. It also represents the first major title as captain for Babar Azam, one of the country’s leading batters.
Chasing a modest target of 130, Zalmi recovered from an early collapse to reach the total with relative ease, finishing the match with more than four overs to spare. The innings began in dramatic fashion, with both openers — Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam dismissed in the opening over, leaving the side under immediate pressure.
The chase was stabilised by Aaron Hardie, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 56. After early setbacks reduced Zalmi to 40 for four, Hardie found crucial support from Abdul Samad, with the pair putting together an 85-run partnership that effectively turned the game in their team’s favour. Samad’s 48 provided momentum before his dismissal, while Hardie remained at the crease to guide the side home.
Earlier, Zalmi’s decision to field first proved decisive, as their bowlers restricted the Kingsmen to 129 all out in 18 overs. Hardie was again central to the effort, taking four wickets for 27 runs in a standout spell that dismantled the middle and lower order.
The Kingsmen struggled to build sustained partnerships after a promising start. While Saim Ayub top-scored with a steady half-century, wickets fell regularly at the other end, including a cluster of dismissals that derailed their innings in the middle overs. Contributions from Marnus Labuschagne and others helped push the total to a competitive level, but it ultimately proved insufficient.
Zalmi’s bowlers maintained consistent pressure throughout, with additional support from Nahid Rana, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit, who each chipped in with key breakthroughs.
The final capped a competitive season of the Pakistan Super League, with Zalmi’s victory underlining their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. For Babar Azam, the triumph adds a long-awaited leadership achievement to an already distinguished career, while Hardie’s all-round display is likely to be remembered as one of the defining performances in a PSL final.
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