In the final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets to claim their second championship title after 8 years.
Chasing a target of 130 runs set by Hyderabad Kingsmen, Peshawar Zalmi had a shaky start. Their first wicket fell at just 6 runs when Mohammad Haris scored 6. Captain Babar Azam was dismissed for a duck at 7 runs, while the second wicket fell shortly after.
The third and fourth wickets fell at 33 and 40 runs respectively, with Kusal Mendis scoring 9 and Michael 4.
However, Aaron Hardie and Abdul Samad stabilized the innings with a crucial 85-run partnership. Hardie scored an unbeaten 55 off 36 balls, while Abdul Samad made 48 runs before getting out, guiding the team to victory.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 129 runs in 18 overs. Saim Ayub top-scored with 54 runs. Their batting collapsed after losing wickets at regular intervals, including key players like Glenn Maxwell and others who failed to contribute.
Peshawar Zalmi, who dominated the league stage with 8 wins out of 9 matches, entered the final as favorites. Captain Babar Azam was the tournament’s top run-scorer, while Sufiyan Muqeem took 21 wickets as the leading bowler.
The final was played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, which was completely packed, and a colorful closing ceremony was held before the match.
