Aaron Hardie delivered a match-winning all-round performance as Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. His outstanding contribution with both ball and bat proved decisive in Zalmi’s title triumph.
Hardie first produced a brilliant spell of bowling, taking four key wickets to restrict Hyderabad Kingsmen to a modest total of 129 runs. His disciplined attack helped dismantle their batting lineup, with the opposition folding just two overs short of completing their innings.
Chasing 130, Zalmi faced an early setback when Mohammad Haris was dismissed for six and captain Babar Azam fell for a duck in the very first over, bowled by Mohammad Ali. Despite the shaky start, the team recovered steadily and completed the chase comfortably, reaching the target with 28 balls remaining after losing five wickets.
Hardie then made a strong impact with the bat as well, scoring a composed unbeaten half-century to guide his team home safely. His performance earned him widespread praise as Zalmi lifted their second PSL trophy, their first since 2017 under Darren Sammy.
The victory also marked a personal milestone for Babar Azam, who secured his first major title as captain. The champions received a prize of $500,000, while the runners-up earned $300,000, along with an additional award for player development.
