Aaron Hardie produced a match-defining all-round performance as Peshawar Zalmi secured their second PSL trophy, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at Lahore on Sunday, May 3. The Australian became the tournament’s first player to grab four wickets and also reach a half-century in the showpiece. Zalmi chose to field first, but once Hardie and his teammates turned the screw, the chase became comfortable, with 28 balls left unused.
Hyderabad’s fast start, then a collapse
Hyderabad got off to a lively start after Maaz Sadaqat struck a six with his opening delivery. Marnus Labuschagne followed up the early momentum by finishing the over with a boundary, but the positive rhythm was short-lived as Sadaqat was dismissed in the very next over. Saim Ayub then took charge, piling up runs quickly as Labuschagne added a four and a six in Hardie’s opening over. By 4.3 overs, Kingsmen had reached fifty, but an outside edge off Labuschagne in the same spell helped Hardie claim revenge.
The Powerplay largely belonged to the batting side, and Kingsmen were sitting pretty at 69 for two after the first six overs. That position suggested they could build into a substantial total, yet the contest changed sharply from there. Four wickets were lost in only nine balls, including two dismissals via runouts, and Ayub watched helplessly as 69/2 slid to 73/6.
Hardie’s control seals the innings
With the required task now extremely difficult, even Ayub restrained his instincts to try to bat deep. He still managed to reach his first fifty of the season in the final, but he soon fell victim to Hardie for the third time. Hardie then wrapped up the tail as Hyderabad were bowled out for 129 with two overs remaining.
Mohammad Ali caused a brief stir by removing Mohammad Haris on the third ball he faced, and Babar Azam followed with a golden duck. When Hardie returned, he made an immediate impact with three boundaries in his second over, keeping the chase firmly on course. Kusal Mendis began attractively, but Hunain Shah cut short his stay, before Akif Javed added another blow with the wicket of Michael Bracewell.
Quick facts
- Final: Peshawar Zalmi vs Hyderabad Kingsmen
- Date and venue: Sunday, May 3 — Lahore
- Result: Zalmi won by 5 wickets
- Chase: 130/5 in 15.2 overs
- Target: 129 (all out in 18 overs)
- Hardie’s impact: 56* with the bat and 4-27 with the ball
- Title significance: Zalmi’s second PSL triumph
At 39/4, Zalmi’s prospects had wobbled and they needed steadiness at the crease. Hardie steadied the innings through the remainder of the Powerplay, hitting three more boundaries, while Abdul Samad grew in confidence by finding the boundary repeatedly, including sixes in back-to-back overs. By the halfway mark, Zalmi had reached 79, forcing Kingsmen to respond quickly and regain pressure.
That response didn’t fully arrive, as both Hardie and Samad were striking with confidence and picking up runs at will. Hardie reached a polished fifty off just 35 balls, effectively taking the match away from Hyderabad. Although the bowling side finally managed to remove Samad, the damage was already done—he had struck a four and a six just before departing.
Zalmi then needed only three more deliveries to finish the job, and the franchise lifted the trophy for the second time with room to spare.
Brief scores: Hyderabad Kingsmen 129 in 18 overs (Saim Ayub 54; Aaron Hardie 4-27, Nahid Rana 2-22) lost to Peshawar Zalmi 130/5 in 15.2 overs (Aaron Hardie 56*, Abdul Samad 48; Mohammad Ali 3-38) by 5 wickets
