Peshawar Zalmi staged a spectacular turnaround to clinch the PSL 2026 title, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in a tense final on Sunday in Lahore. Zalmi's dominant start turned into a horror show before an all-round masterclass from Aaron Hardie sealed the victory. After deciding to bowl, Peshawar Zalmi's strangling bowling attack skittled Hyderabad Kingsmen for 129 runs in 18 overs.
Aaron Hardie led the charge with the ball, claiming four crucial wickets and putting Hyderabad under constant pressure. For Hyderabad, Saim Ayub was the lone warrior, bludgeoning a breathtaking 54 off 50 balls.
Chasing a modest target of 130, Zalmi had a disastrous start, with the top order collapsing like a pack of cards. Babar Azam, who had been in exceptional form throughout the tournament, was dismissed for a duck. Mohammad Haris and Kusal Mendis also failed to make an impact, scoring 6 and 9 runs, respectively.
However, Aaron Hardie once again rose to the occasion, leading the recovery with a stunning 66* runs. His knock not only steadied the innings but also shifted momentum back in Zalmi’s favour. Abdul Samad played a vital role, contributing a sensational 48 as Zalmi overhauled the target in 15.2 overs.