LAHORE: The 11th HBL Pakistan Super League final became a one-man show as Aaron Hardie powered Peshawar Zalmi to their second title with a commanding all-round performance in Lahore.
Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. They comfortably chased a modest 130-run target in just 16 overs.
Hardie led the charge with both ball and bat. He claimed four wickets and then scored an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls.
His innings included nine boundaries and anchored Zalmi’s recovery after an early collapse. He earned Player of the Match honors for his match-winning display.
Early Collapse Tests Zalmi
Zalmi stumbled early in the chase. They lost four wickets for just 40 runs inside five overs.
Muhammad Haris fell for six, while Kusal Mendis managed only nine. Captain Babar Azam departed for a duck, shocking the Zalmi camp.
However, Abdul Samad and Hardie stabilized the innings with a crucial 85-run partnership. Samad scored 48 before falling near the boundary.
Hardie then finished the chase with composure, ensuring a smooth victory.
Kingsmen Fail to Capitalize
Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled to defend their total despite early breakthroughs.
Mohammad Ali led their bowling attack with three wickets. Akif Javed and Hunain Shah picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Kingsmen posted 129 runs after opting to bat first. Their batting lineup failed to build momentum against Zalmi’s disciplined bowling.
Saim Ayub stood out with a solid 54. However, the rest of the batting order collapsed under pressure.
Hardie Headlines Bowling Dominance
Hardie dismantled the Kingsmen lineup with four key wickets. He removed Glenn Maxwell for a duck and later dismissed Saim Ayub.
He became the first player to take a four-wicket haul and score a fifty in a PSL final.
Nahid Rana supported him with two wickets, including captain Marnus Labuschagne. Sufiyaan Muqeem and Muhammad Basit took one wicket each.
Seven Kingsmen batters failed to reach double figures, highlighting their batting struggles.
Zalmi’s Consistent Campaign
Zalmi entered the final as the most consistent team of the season. They won eight matches and lost only once in the league stage.
They had earlier lifted their first PSL title in 2017. This victory places them among multiple-time champions alongside Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars.
Meanwhile, Kingsmen impressed in their debut season. They recovered from five straight losses to reach the final.
They secured their spot after a dramatic two-run win over Islamabad United in the eliminator.
