Hardie's all-round heroics power Peshawar Zalmi to second PSL title

Key facts

• Peshawar Zalmi won by 5 wickets with 28 balls remaining.
• Aaron Hardie took 4-27 and scored 56* off 39 balls.
• Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 129 in 18 overs.
• Babar Azam scored two centuries and equaled Fakhar Zaman's PSL record of 588 runs in a season.
• Saim Ayub top-scored for Hyderabad with 54.
• Peshawar slumped to 40-4 before Hardie and Abdul Samad (48) added 85 runs.
• Hyderabad lost 5 wickets for 2 runs after the power play.

A final of swift reversals

Aaron Hardie produced a commanding all-round display to steer Peshawar Zalmi to their second Pakistan Super League title, defeating newcomers Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final on Sunday. The Australian all-rounder took 4-27 to restrict Hyderabad to 129 all out, then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls as Zalmi reached 130-5 with 28 balls to spare at a packed Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The victory completed a redemption arc for captain Babar Azam, who finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 588 runs, equaling Fakhar Zaman's PSL record. "It's a very big achievement for me, for Peshawar Zalmi and all the fans," Babar said after winning his first PSL title as skipper. "Throughout the tournament, we've performed really well as a team."

Hyderabad's bright start and sudden collapse

Hyderabad Kingsmen began the final with intent, reaching 69-2 in the power play despite losing captain Marnus Labuschagne for 20, caught behind off a rising Hardie delivery. Saim Ayub struck a fighting half-century, scoring 54, and Maaz Sadaqat contributed 11 before falling to Mohammad Basit. At 71-2, the innings appeared set for a competitive total. Then the momentum vanished. Hyderabad lost five wickets for just two runs in the space of nine balls after the power play, crashing to 73-6. The slide began when Usman Khan, who had scored half-centuries in his previous three games, was trapped leg before wicket by Sufyan Moqim. The innings never recovered, folding for 129 all out in 18 overs.

Zalmi's early wobble and Hardie-Samad stand

Chasing 130, Peshawar Zalmi suffered a disastrous start, slumping to 40-4 inside the first five overs. Babar Azam fell for a golden duck, while Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis, and Michael Bracewell all departed for single-digit scores. The Kingsmen sensed an upset, their early breakthroughs rattling the favorites. Aaron Hardie, who had already done damage with the ball, combined with Abdul Samad in a match-winning stand of 85 runs. Hardie smashed nine fours in his fluent knock, while Samad scored 48 before holing out in the deep when only five runs were needed. "It was just a great game of cricket," Hardie said. "Kingsmen came out of the blocks really hard. They've certainly had a lot of momentum from the last couple of games and they carried that in, but I'm really proud of the way the boys were able to fight back."

Labuschagne's rueful reflection

Hyderabad captain Marnus Labuschagne did not hide his disappointment, pointing directly at the batting unit's failure to capitalize on a strong start. "They left runs behind," he said, acknowledging that the total was insufficient in a final. He praised his bowlers for giving the team a chance with early breakthroughs, but admitted the game slipped away during the Hardie-Samad partnership. Labuschagne described the campaign as a strong one, noting that the side had overcome four straight losses at the start to surge into the final. "It felt unpredictable throughout," he said. The Kingsmen had pulled off a stunning late push to qualify, winning close contests and seeing younger players deliver under pressure.

Numbers that defined the tournament

Peshawar Zalmi entered the final as favorites, having lost only one game in the tournament. Babar Azam's two centuries helped him equal Fakhar Zaman's PSL record of 588 runs in a single edition, underscoring his return to form after being in and out of Pakistan's T20 squad. Sufyan Moqim finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, adding 1-23 in the final. For Hyderabad, Saim Ayub's 54 was the lone bright spot with the bat. The Kingsmen's power play output of 69-2 was the highest of the match, but their collapse of 5 wickets for 2 runs after the power play proved decisive. The final margin of victory—five wickets with 28 balls remaining—belied the tension of the early chase.

What lies ahead for both sides

For Peshawar Zalmi, the title marks their second PSL championship, cementing their status as one of the league's most successful franchises. Babar Azam's leadership and personal form will likely bolster his case for a permanent return to Pakistan's T20 setup. The team's ability to recover from 40-4 demonstrated depth beyond its star players. Hyderabad Kingsmen, in their debut season, can take pride in reaching the final after a rocky start. Labuschagne's captaincy and the emergence of young talent bode well for future campaigns. However, the sting of losing a final from a position of strength will linger, and the team will need to address the batting fragility that cost them the title.

A final of fine margins

The PSL 11 final will be remembered for how quickly fortunes flipped. Hyderabad's bright start, Zalmi's early collapse, Hardie's composure, and the Kingsmen's inability to sustain pressure all contributed to a match that swung dramatically. "That's how finals go sometimes," Labuschagne said. "Small margins with big consequences." For Peshawar, the victory was a testament to their resilience and Hardie's all-round brilliance. For Hyderabad, it was a lesson in the unforgiving nature of knockout cricket. As the Gaddafi Stadium crowd chanted Babar's name, the night belonged to Zalmi—but the Kingsmen had shown they belonged on the big stage.

The bottom line

• Aaron Hardie's 4-27 and 56* made him the decisive player in the final.
• Peshawar Zalmi won their second PSL title, overcoming an early collapse of 40-4.
• Babar Azam equaled the PSL single-season run record with 588 runs, including two centuries.
• Hyderabad Kingsmen collapsed from 71-2 to 129 all out, losing five wickets for two runs.
• The final was played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on May 3, 2026.
• Hyderabad reached the final after starting the tournament with four consecutive losses.