LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi were crowned champions of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 after defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in a tightly fought final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Chasing a target of 130 runs, Zalmi completed the chase in the 16th over, losing five wickets in the process. The win secured them the PSL title in front of an energetic crowd.
Aaron Hardie starred for Zalmi with an unbeaten 56, anchoring the chase with composure and control. Abdul Samad also played a crucial supporting role with a quick 48 before getting out. Other Zalmi batters struggled, with Kusal Mendis scoring 9, Mohammad Haris 6, Michael Bracewell 4, and captain Babar Azam dismissed for a duck.
For Hyderabad Kingsmen, Mohammad Ali led the bowling attack with three wickets, while Hunain Shah and Akif Javed claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 129 runs in 18 overs after being asked to bat first. Saim Ayub top-scored with 54 runs, holding the innings together amid regular wickets. Captain Marnus Labuschagne made 20, while contributions from Hassan Khan (12), Maaz Sadaqat (11), Hunain Shah (9), Usman Khan (8), Akif Javed (5), Irfan Khan (1), Kusal Perera (1), and Glenn Maxwell (0) were not enough to push the total beyond a modest score.
Zalmi’s bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, with Aaron Hardie taking four wickets and Naheed Rana claiming two. Sufyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit picked up one wicket each to restrict Kingsmen effectively.
Peshawar Zalmi’s victory marks a memorable PSL 11 campaign, showcasing strong all-round performances and finishing with the ultimate prize.
