Aaron Hardie’s Masterclass Secures PSL 11 Title for Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi
LAHORE: Babar Azam has officially secured his first T20 franchise title as captain. Overcoming a dramatic top-order collapse, Peshawar Zalmi defeated debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets to win the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
The victory ends a lengthy title drought for Zalmi, securing their second championship and their first since 2017. While Babar had previously won two PSL titles as a player, lifting the trophy presented by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi marked a career milestone for the veteran top-order batter.
Hardie Dominates With Ball and Bat
Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie delivered a comprehensive performance to earn Player of the Match honors. Hardie systematically dismantled the Hyderabad batting lineup, recording excellent figures of 4 for 27. Saim Ayub anchored the Kingsmen innings with a fighting 54, but a lack of lower-order support resulted in Hyderabad posting a sub-par 129 in exactly 18 overs.
Peshawar’s run chase started disastrously, deteriorating rapidly to 40 for 4. Hyderabad applied intense early pressure when Babar departed for a golden duck. The middle order offered little resistance, with Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis, and Michael Bracewell falling cheaply inside the powerplay.
Hardie reversed the match momentum, scoring an unbeaten 56 off 39 deliveries. Striking the ball efficiently, he established an 85-run partnership with Abdul Samad, who added a rapid 48. This stand eliminated the run-rate deficit, allowing Zalmi to reach the target in just 15.2 overs and conclude a dominant season where they suffered only a single defeat.
PSL 11 Final Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 129/10 | 18.0 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 130/5 | 15.2 |
Season Records and Awards
The PSL 11 campaign concluded with significant individual milestones. Babar Azam finished the tournament matching Fakhar Zaman’s historic PSL record of 588 runs in a single season. Meanwhile, left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem dominated the bowling metrics for Zalmi.
- Player of the Tournament: Sufiyan Muqeem (22 wickets)
- Most Runs (Orange Cap): Babar Azam (588 runs)
- Most Wickets (Purple Cap): Sufiyan Muqeem (22 wickets)
- Player of the Match: Aaron Hardie