Zalmi beat Kingsmen in PSL final, Aaron Hardie shines with both bat and ball

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi clinched the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title with a dominant five-wicket victory over the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the grand final at Gaddafi Stadium, powered by a match-winning all-round performance from Aaron Hardie.

Put in to bat, the debutant Kingsmen were rocked early and never recovered, eventually being bowled out for 129 in 18 overs. Despite brief resistance from Saim Ayub, who top-scored with a gritty 54 off 50 balls, the innings unravelled under relentless pressure from Zalmi’s attack. Marnus Labuschagne (20 off 12) provided a short spark, but the middle order collapsed as wickets fell at regular intervals. Usman Khan, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan Niazi, and Kusal Perera all departed cheaply, including multiple run-outs that exposed nerves on the big stage.

Aaron Hardie led Zalmi’s bowling charge with outstanding figures of 4 for 27, dismantling the Kingsmen lineup with key breakthroughs, including the crucial wicket of Saim Ayub. He was well supported by Nahid Rana, who returned 2 for 22, while Mohammad Basit Ali and Sufyan Muqeem also chipped in as the batting side folded. Hyderabad were eventually restricted to 129 all out, with Mohammad Ali unbeaten on 1.

In reply, Zalmi’s chase began steadily but briefly wobbled after early strikes, including the dismissals of Mohammad Haris and skipper Babar Azam, leaving them under pressure in the opening overs. However, the recovery was led once again by Hardie, who struck an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls to anchor the innings. He found strong support from Abdul Samad, who contributed a vital 48 off 34 balls as the pair steadied the chase.

Despite a spirited bowling effort from Mohammad Ali, who took 3 for 38, Zalmi overhauled the target comfortably, reaching 130 in 15.2 overs with 28 balls to spare.

With the comprehensive win, Peshawar Zalmi were crowned PSL champions, while Aaron Hardie’s exceptional all-round display firmly etched his name into the tournament’s history as the standout performer of the final.

Playing XIs

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Nahid Rana, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit.

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed.