Peshawar Zalmi rode on a breathtaking all-round performance from Australia’s Aaron Hardie to clinch their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title, defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in a one-sided final in Lahore on Sunday.
Hardie delivered a match-winning display for the ages, first claiming an impressive 4 for 27 to dismantle Kingsmen’s batting line-up, before returning with the bat to hammer an unbeaten 56 that guided Zalmi home with 28 balls to spare. In doing so, he became the first player in PSL history to take four wickets and score a half-century in a final.
Kingsmen began with intent after being put into bat. Maaz Sadaqat launched the innings with a six, while Marnus Labuschagne provided early momentum. Saim Ayub then took centre stage, playing a fluent knock to keep the scoreboard ticking as Kingsmen raced to 69 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay.
However, the innings unravelled dramatically thereafter. A stunning collapse saw four wickets fall in the space of just nine deliveries, including two costly run-outs, as Kingsmen slumped from 69 for 2 to 73 for 6. Ayub, who struck a valiant 54, tried to anchor the innings but found little support. Hardie returned to clean up the tail, ensuring Kingsmen were bundled out for a modest 129 in 18 overs.
Chasing 130, Zalmi’s innings got off to a shaky start. Mohammad Haris fell early, followed by skipper Babar Azam for a golden duck, leaving the side in early trouble. The pressure intensified when Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell also departed, reducing Zalmi to 39 for 4.
It was then that Hardie stepped up with a composed yet aggressive knock. Counter-attacking from the outset, he struck regular boundaries to shift momentum. Abdul Samad provided excellent support with a crucial 48, as the duo steadied the innings and took control of the chase.
Hardie brought up his half-century in just 35 deliveries, effectively sealing the contest. Although Samad fell late in the innings, the result was a mere formality by then, as Zalmi crossed the line comfortably in 15.2 overs.
Brief scores: Hyderabad Kingsmen 129 (Saim Ayub 54; Aaron Hardie 4-27, Nahid Rana 2-22) lost to Peshawar Zalmi 130/5 (Aaron Hardie 56*, Abdul Samad 48; Mohammad Ali 3-38) by five wickets.
