The final of 11th HBL Pakistan Super League edition turned out to be a one-man show as Aaron Hardie’s spectacular all-round performance led Peshawar Zalmi to their second title win on Sunday in Lahore. They defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets after opting to bowl first against the debutants at the Gaddafi Stadium. Peshawar Zalmi achieved the 130-run target in the 16th over of the second innings, becoming the HBL PSL champions for a second time. The first claimed the trophy with a win against the Quetta Gladiators in 2017. They have now joined Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars as the winners who have lifted the PSL trophy more than once. Zalmi’s second win was led by a stunning performance by Hardie, who took four wickets before scoring an unbeaten 56 runs off 39 deliveries. He smashed a total of nine boundaries and was named the player of the match. They initially quickly lost four wickets after scoring just 40 runs by the end of five overs.
Published: May 3, 2026 1:59 pm
Source: Dawn — Read original