Peshawar Zalmi returned to the top of the Pakistan Super League after a commanding five wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the 2026 final, thanks largely to a sensational performance from Aaron Hardie. Delivering with both bat and ball, Hardie produced career best bowling figures of 4 for 27 before guiding the chase with a composed unbeaten 56 from 39 deliveries.
This victory marks Zalmi’s second PSL title, their first since 2017, placing them among the select few teams with multiple championships alongside Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars.
The final promised a competitive contest, especially given Kingsmen’s remarkable journey to reach this stage. After losing their first four matches of the season, they mounted an incredible comeback by winning seven of their next eight games. However, the big occasion proved overwhelming as their batting unit faltered badly under pressure.
Opting to field first, Zalmi skipper Babar Azam made full use of helpful early conditions. Kingsmen looked steady early on, reaching 69 for 2 in the powerplay, but what followed was a dramatic collapse. A sequence of poor decisions and miscommunication led to four wickets falling for just two runs within a span of eight deliveries, including two run outs that shifted momentum completely.
Saim Ayub stood out amid the chaos, crafting a patient 54 from 50 balls after an aggressive start. His partnership with Marnus Labuschagne initially provided stability, but once the collapse began, there was little resistance from the rest of the lineup. Kingsmen were eventually dismissed for just 129, the lowest total ever recorded in a PSL final.
Zalmi’s chase began shakily as they lost early wickets and slipped to 40 for 4. At that stage, Kingsmen sensed an opportunity to pull off a surprise. But Hardie had other plans. Taking control of the innings, he stitched together a crucial 85 run partnership with Abdul Samad, who contributed a valuable 48 from 34 balls.
The pair rotated the strike smartly while capitalising on loose deliveries, gradually taking the game away from the opposition. As the target came within reach, Zalmi maintained composure to finish the job comfortably, sealing the win in the following over after Samad’s late flourish.
In the end, it was Hardie’s all round excellence that defined the final, turning a potentially tricky chase into a memorable triumph and etching his name into PSL history.
