On May 3, Peshawar Zalmi led by Babar Azam beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wicket sin the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 final. Peshawar Zalmi won their first PSL trophy in nine years. But, the highest run-scorer of the season, Zalmi skipper Babar couldn’t contribute in the run chase and fell for a golden duck. It was Peshawar Zalmi’s Australian recruit Aaron Hardie who claimed a four-wicket haul and then registered an unbeaten 56 to take Peshawar Zalmi home.
Kingsmen suffer collapse, Ayub scores 1st fifty
After Babar won the toss and opted to bowl first at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Hyderabad Kingsmen got off to a flying start. Skipper Marnus Labuschagne and Maaz Sadaqat departed by Kingsmen had 69/2 on the board after powerplay overs. Then, Sufiyan Muqeem dismissed Usman Khan and Irfan Khan got run out. Nahid Rana dismissed Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck and Michael Bracewell ran out Kusal Perera. All of a sudden, Kingsmen were 77/6.
Saim Ayub tried to anchor the innings but Hardie and Rana kept chipping away. In the 16th over, Ayub reached his first fifty of the season from 42 deliveries. In the 18th over, Hardie struck twice to bowl out Kingsmen for 129. Ayub departed after scoring 54 runs from 50 balls, featuring five fours and two sixes. His scoring rate took a hit as wickets kept falling at the other end. Hardie completed his quota of four overs, claimed four wickets for 27 runs.
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Babar, Mendis fall early in run chase
Mohammad Ali got Kingsmen back in the game. In the first over, he dismissed Mohammad Haris and Babar. The Zalmi skipper got out caught behind trying to play a drive towards off side. Babar missed out on breaking the record for most runs in a season which he now jointly holds with Lahore Qalandars opener Fakhar Zaman. Hardie didn't take much time to get going as he hit Akif Javed for three fours in an over. Kusal Mendis hit two boundaries before he fell to Hunain Shah in the fourth over. Then, Akif Javed got rid of Michael Bracewell. Kingsmen were 40/4 in the fifth over. In the sixth over, Hardie tried to make the most of the fielding restrictions, hitting Hunain for three fours. Zalmi were 53/4 after powerplay overs.
Hardie, Samad make it one-sided affair
Hardie slowed down in the middle overs while Abdul Samad got the timely boundary to keep the pressure on Kingsmen. In the 13th over, the Australian all-rounder reached his fifty from 35 balls. In the 15th over, Ali got a consolation wicket as Abdul Samad fell for a 34-ball 48. On the second ball of the 16th over, Farhan Yousaf hit the winning runs as Peshawar Zalmi won their second title.