Peshawar Zalmi clinched the Pakistan Super League season 11 title with a five-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 130, Zalmi reached the total in the 16th over, losing five wickets in a controlled run chase.
Aaron Hardie led the innings with an unbeaten 56, anchoring the chase under pressure.
Abdul Samad provided key support with 48 runs before being dismissed.
Other batters made limited contributions, with Kusal Mendis scoring 9, Mohammad Haris 6, and Michael Bracewell 4, while captain Babar Azam was dismissed without scoring.
Bowlers from Hyderabad Kingsmen put up a brief fight, but Peshawar Zalmi held their nerve to secure the title.
For the Kingsmen, Mohammad Ali was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets during Zalmi’s chase. Hannan Shah and Aakif Javed picked up one wicket each.
Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder Aaron Hardie was named Player of the Final after a match-winning performance in the PSL 11 decider.
Hardie played a key role with both bat and ball, taking four wickets during Hyderabad Kingsmen’s innings and later scoring an unbeaten 56 runs to guide his team to victory.
The victory marks a strong finish for Zalmi, who held their nerve in the final to secure the PSL 11 trophy in front of a packed crowd in Lahore.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 129 runs in 18 overs.
After winning the toss, Zalmi chose to field first and immediately put pressure on the opposition with tight bowling and regular wickets.
Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled from the start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals, failing to build any strong partnerships.
Opener Saim Ayub was the top scorer with 54 runs.
Captain Marnus Labuschagne scored 20 runs, while Muaz Sadaqat made 11.
Haseeb Khan contributed 12 runs.
Irfan Niazi and Kusal Perera were dismissed cheaply for one run each, while Glenn Maxwell was out for a duck. Hannan Shah added 9 runs.
For Zalmi, Aaron Hardie was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 27 runs.
Naheed Rana also impressed with 2 wickets for 22 runs.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and decided to field first.
After winning the toss, Zalmi captain Babar Azam said the pitch looked slightly challenging and hinted that early conditions could play an important role in the match.
“The pitch is a bit on the slower side,” Babar said. “It feels good playing in front of such a crowd.
As a team, we need to understand the conditions quickly.”
He added that adapting early would be key in a high-pressure final.
Zalmi made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Naheed Rana in place of Khurram Shahzad, according to the captain.
Playing XIs
Hyderabad Kingsmen XI: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed
Peshawar Zalmi XI: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Sufyan Moqim, Basit Ali, Nahid Rana
Both teams are competing for the PSL title in what is expected to be a closely fought final under lights in Lahore.
Peshawar Zalmi secured place in the final after winning their Qualifier against Islamabad United while Hyderabad Kingsmen defeated Multan Sultans and Islamabad United, respectively, in the two eliminators, to book their spot.
PSL final match is expected to draw significant attention as both sides aim to secure the prestigious title after a competitive tournament.
The captains of both teams, Babar Azam of Peshawar Zalmi and Marnus Labuschagne of Hyderabad Kingsmen, jointly unveiled the tournament trophy ahead of the match.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board, the winning team will receive prize money of $1 million, while the runners-up will be awarded 2 lak dollars.
In addition, the champions will receive a further five hundred thousand dollars as a special bonus, while the runners-up will also be given an extra three hundred thousand dollars.
Match officials for the final include Ahsan Raza and Christopher Gaffaney as on-field umpires. Alexander Wharf will serve as the third umpire, with Asif Yaqoob as the fourth umpire. Ranjan Madugalle has been appointed as the match referee.
Officials confirmed that the gates of Gaddafi Stadium will close at 6pm for spectators, ahead of the start of the final.
Both leaders expressed determination and confidence as they look forward to leading their teams onto the field.
Speaking before the final, Babar Azam acknowledged that there would be pressure in such a crucial match but said his team would aim to perform according to their plans in all departments of the game. He added that the side would make every effort to claim the trophy through disciplined play.
Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne stated that his team would enter the match with confidence and focus, aiming to secure victory and take the trophy home. He emphasised the importance of belief and execution in a match of such importance.