Aaron Hardie’s All-Round Masterclass Powers Peshawar Zalmi to PSL 11 Glory

 

Peshawar Zalmi have been crowned the champions of PSL 11 after a dominant 5-wicket victory over the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the grand final at Gaddafi Stadium. Opting to bowl first, Babar Azam’s side dismantled the Kingsmen’s batting lineup with relentless precision. The star of the first innings was Aaron Hardie, whose brilliant spell of 4 for 27 tore through the heart of the Hyderabad order. Despite a valiant 54 off 50 balls from Saim Ayub, the Kingsmen were bundled out for a modest 129 in just 18 overs, as Nahid Rana and Sufiyan Muqeem provided excellent support with the ball.

The chase began with high drama as Mohammad Ali stunned the Lahore crowd by dismissing both Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam (0) in a sensational opening over. When Zalmi slumped to 40/4 in the fifth over, the debutant Kingsmen appeared to have the upper hand. However, Aaron Hardie stepped up once again, this time with the bat, anchoring the innings with a composed 56 off 39 deliveries*. He found a fearless partner in Abdul Samad, who smashed 48 off 34 balls, including four massive sixes, in an 85-run partnership that effectively ended Hyderabad's hopes.

With this victory, Peshawar Zalmi has secured its second PSL title, ending a nine-year trophy drought dating back to 2017. The win also marks a significant milestone for Babar Azam, who lifted his first major trophy as a captain. While the Hyderabad Kingsmen fell short in the finale, their incredible journey from a four-game losing streak at the start of the season to the summit clash earned them immense respect. Ultimately, it was Zalmi’s big-match temperament and Hardie's "Player of the Match" performance that sealed the championship with 28 balls to spare.