All-rounder Hardie stars as Peshawar win PSL

The Pakistan Super League final in Lahore produced a dominant all-round display from Australia’s Aaron Hardie, as Peshawar Zalmi overcame Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets to secure their second PSL title.

Kingsmen, batting first after losing the toss, were restricted to 129 all out in 18 overs despite a promising start. Zalmi then chased the modest target in 15.2 overs, finishing on 130-5 with 28 balls remaining, completing a comfortable victory in the high-pressure final.

Hardie was the standout performer of the match, delivering a match-winning contribution with both bat and ball. First, he played a crucial role with the ball, taking 4 wickets for just 27 runs, dismantling the Kingsmen batting lineup at key moments. Later, he returned with the bat to score an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls, anchoring the chase and guiding Zalmi over the line when the game briefly looked uncertain.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Peshawar Zalmi, who had topped the group-stage table and carried strong momentum into the knockout phase. They had already delivered a dominant performance against Islamabad United in the qualifier before sealing the title in the final, ending a nine-year wait for PSL glory.

For Hyderabad Kingsmen, the final represented a remarkable achievement in their debut season. They had exceeded expectations by reaching the championship match, but ultimately fell short after a collapse with the bat and inability to defend a below-par total in the final stages.

Kingsmen’s innings began steadily after they were asked to bat in Lahore. They reached 71 for 2 shortly after the powerplay overs, appearing to be building a platform for a competitive total. However, their momentum quickly evaporated as the middle order collapsed dramatically.

In a shocking passage of play, Kingsmen lost four wickets for just three runs, completely derailing their innings. Michael Bracewell played a key role in this collapse, effecting two run-outs in quick succession, dismissing Irfan Khan Niazi and Kusal Perera and putting immense pressure on the batting side.

Despite the collapse, Saim Ayub provided resistance for Kingsmen. He played a composed and measured innings, scoring 54 runs off 50 deliveries. His effort was crucial in lifting the team past the 100-run mark and giving them at least a defendable total. However, his dismissal marked another turning point, as Hardie claimed his third wicket of the innings.

Hardie, who had already removed Marnus Labuschagne and Hassan Khan earlier in the innings, continued his dominance by also dismissing Akif Javed shortly after, wrapping up the Kingsmen innings with two overs still remaining. His disciplined bowling ensured that Kingsmen could not push beyond 130, leaving them with a challenging but not impossible total to defend in a final.

At the halfway stage, 130 looked competitive given the pressure of a final, and Kingsmen began their defence in sensational fashion. In the very first over, fast bowler Mohammad Ali struck twice, removing Mohammad Haris for 6 and then stunning Zalmi by dismissing captain Babar Azam for a golden duck. The early breakthroughs immediately put Zalmi under pressure.

The Kingsmen continued to apply pressure as Kusal Mendis fell for 9 runs, followed soon after by Michael Bracewell for just 4. At this point, Zalmi were in deep trouble at 40 for 4, and the Kingsmen looked poised to pull off a historic upset in their first PSL final appearance.

However, the match shifted decisively in the middle overs. Aaron Hardie once again stepped up, this time with the bat, joining Abdul Samad to stabilise the innings. The pair built a crucial partnership of 85 runs for the fifth wicket, which completely changed the momentum of the game.

Samad played an aggressive yet controlled knock, scoring 48 runs off 34 balls, while Hardie anchored the chase with composure and smart shot selection. Their partnership ensured that Zalmi recovered from early setbacks and gradually took control of the required run rate.

Kingsmen briefly regained hope when Mohammad Ali struck again, removing Samad for 48 with just five runs needed to win. Ali finished with impressive figures of 3 for 38, but the damage had already been done.

With Zalmi needing only a few runs, Pakistan Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf stepped up to finish the match in style, striking a boundary to seal victory for Peshawar Zalmi and spark celebrations.

In the end, Kingsmen’s total of 129 proved insufficient against a composed and experienced Zalmi side. Hardie’s exceptional all-round performance stood out as the defining factor in the final, earning him praise as the match-winner in both innings.

Zalmi’s triumph marked a return to the top of Pakistan Super League cricket, while Kingsmen were left to reflect on a promising season that ended just short of the ultimate prize.