Peshawar Zalmi are Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions after defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 4 May, with Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana and all-rounder Aaron Hardie the two outstanding performers in a comprehensive team display.
Hyderabad batted first after losing the toss and made a reasonable start, putting on 56 runs in the first five overs despite losing openers Maj Sadaqat for 11 off 6 balls and captain Marnus Labuschagne for 20 off 12, their partnership worth just 16 for the first wicket.
Nahid Rana entered the attack in the sixth over and was treated harshly. Saim Ayub stepped outside off stump and flicked him for a six over square leg before driving a half-volley through cover for four, with 13 runs coming from the over to leave Hyderabad well placed at 69 for 2 in the powerplay. Captain Babar Azam, however, kept faith in his bowler.
The trust was repaid handsomely in the eighth over. Nahid drew Glenn Maxwell into a mistimed pull off a sharp bouncer, the Australian caught at mid-on for a golden duck. Later in the same over, a direct throw from Michael Bracewell ran out Kusal Perera, leaving Hyderabad reeling despite the Sri Lankan’s protests, with the third umpire upholding the decision after checking for obstruction.
Nahid returned in the 14th over and was even more devastating, bowling Hunain Shah with a 148 kilometres per hour delivery in a wicket-maiden over that yielded no runs off the bat. He finished with figures of 2 for 22 from four overs, having conceded just nine runs across his final three overs after the expensive opening.
The 23-year-old’s presence in the final was not guaranteed. The BCB had initially withheld clearance for him to continue in the tournament, but later relented, citing the significance of a major global franchise final as justification. It proved an inspired decision.
Hardie wrapped up the innings in the 18th over, dismissing both Saim Ayub and Akif Javed to finish with 4 for 27 as Hyderabad were bowled out for 129. Saim’s 54 off 50 balls, including five fours and two sixes, was the only innings of substance from the Kingsmen. From a commanding 71 for 2, they lost eight wickets for just 58 runs in a devastating collapse.
Peshawar’s chase began disastrously. Both openers fell in the first over, with Mohammad Haris scoring 6 off 3 balls before departing and Babar Azam falling for a golden duck. Kusal Mendis steadied things briefly before going for 9 off 8 balls, and Michael Bracewell’s contribution of 4 from 5 balls left Peshawar in trouble at 40 for 4, still 90 runs short of their target.
What followed was a match-winning partnership between Hardie and Abdul Samad. The pair batted with composure and aggression, rebuilding the innings and systematically dismantling the Hyderabad attack. Hardie completed a well-deserved fifty as the partnership grew, with Samad contributing a punishing 48 off 34 balls before falling late in the chase.
A boundary from Farhan Yusuf completed the formalities, with Peshawar reaching their target with 28 balls to spare and lifting the PSL title in style. Mohammad Ali was the pick of Hyderabad’s bowlers with three wickets, supported by single strikes from Akif Javed and Hunain Shah.
