Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets in the final of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) to lift the title. Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana played a key role with the ball, taking 2 wickets for just 22 runs in a brilliant spell.
Aaron Hardie was the star with the bat, smashing a match-winning half-century.
At Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Hyderabad Kingsmen were sent in to bat first after losing the toss. Openers Maaz Sadaqat and captain Marnus Labuschagne gave the team a steady start with a 16-run partnership. Maaz scored 11 from 6 balls before getting out, while Labuschagne made 20 off 12 balls before departing when the score reached 51.
Nahid Rana came into the attack in the sixth over. His first over went for 13 runs without a wicket, but captain Babar Azam kept faith in him.
Rana returned in the eighth over and made an instant impact. He gave away only 5 runs and dismissed Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck. In the same over, Kusal Perera was run out in dramatic fashion. Rana appealed that he had been obstructed, but the decision stood and Perera had to walk back.
Nahid returned again in the 14th over and delivered an outstanding wicket-maiden over, removing Hunain Shah. He completed a superb spell of 4 overs, 1 maiden, 22 runs, and 2 wickets.
Hyderabad’s only major resistance came from Saim Ayub, who reached a fighting fifty while wickets kept falling around him. He top-scored with 54 from 50 balls. Hyderabad Kingsmen were eventually bowled out for 129 in 18 overs.
For Peshawar Zalmi, Aaron Hardie picked up 4 wickets, while Nahid Rana claimed 2. Mohammad Basit and Sufiyan Muqeem took one wicket each.
Chasing 130, Peshawar suffered an early shock, losing both openers in the very first over. Mohammad Haris made 6 from 3 balls before getting out, while captain Babar Azam was dismissed for a golden duck.
Kusal Mendis and Aaron Hardie then tried to rebuild the innings. Mendis scored 9 from 8 balls before falling, while Michael Bracewell added just 4 runs. Peshawar were struggling at 40 for 4.
But Aaron Hardie stood firm and turned the match around. He found solid support from Abdul Samad, and the pair attacked with confidence, playing several classy shots all around the ground.
Hardie brought up a crucial half-century, while Samad added 48 from 34 balls before getting out late in the chase.
In the end, Farhan Yusuf hit the winning boundary as Peshawar Zalmi reached the target with 28 balls to spare, winning by 5 wickets and becoming PSL champions.
For Hyderabad Kingsmen, Mohammad Ali took 3 wickets, while Akif Javed and Hunain Shah claimed one each.
