Hardie’s all-round brilliance powers Zalmi to second HBL PSL title

Batting first, Kingsmen are bowled out for 129; Samad’s 48 and Hardie’s 58 seal win with 28 balls to spare

An all-round performance by Aaron Hardie powered Peshawar Zalmi to a five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, securing their second title at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a modest target, Zalmi endured a disastrous start, losing both openers in the very first over. Mohammad Haris scored six before departing, while captain Babar Azam — the tournament’s top scorer, was gone first ball, caught behind.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐒𝐋 🤯

Zalmi skipper goes for a duck and the GAME IS ON!#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/oJbSshWiJK

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Kusal Mendis and Hardie attempted to stabilise the innings, taking the score to 33, but Mendis, the second-highest run-getter of the season, fell for nine to leave Zalmi in further trouble.

Hunain Shah strikes big, removing Kusal Mendis in a crucial breakthrough! 🤯#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/4GPYmNTMSM

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Michael Bracewell also departed cheaply as Zalmi slumped to 40 for four within the powerplay, placing the Kingsmen firmly in control.

With the innings in jeopardy, Hardie found support in Abdul Samad, and the pair stitched together a crucial partnership to revive the chase. The duo batted with composure, rotating the strike effectively while dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary.

Lahoriyon, thank you for turning up 🫶#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/101fwR7wjz

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Their match-defining 85-run partnership flipped the contest. Samad fell for a fluent 48 — laced with four sixes and three fours — with victory within touching distance.

Hardie and Samad continue to cruise as Zalmi march closer to the target 🔥#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/HkkT26Lfl2

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Hardie finished the job clinically, sealing the chase with 28 balls remaining to crown Zalmi champions once again — their first title since 2017.

𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐙𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐈! 👏🏼

𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐙𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐈 🏆#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/XJpNHHylzT

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Aaron Hardie, who scored a clinical 58 and claimed four wickets earlier in the match, was named player of the match for his decisive all-round display.

BABAR AZAM'S PESHAWAR ZALMI ARE HBL PSL 11 CHAMPIONS.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/8nqAziUc8s

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Earlier, despite Saim Ayub’s fighting 54, Kingsmen managed only a modest 129 against Zalmi in the high-pressure final.

Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and opted to field — a decision that paid early dividends as in-form Maaz Sadaqat fell in the second over after scoring 11.

Saim Ayub stamping his authority on the big stage 🫡#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/i5CqXcTA4E

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Captain Marnus Labuschagne then joined Ayub, and together they took the score past 50 in the fifth over. However, just as the Kingsmen appeared to settle, Labuschagne was dismissed for 20.

The Infinity went airborne during the closing ceremony 🤩#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/2DqSRrxMfs

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

The innings suffered another setback when their leading batter Usman Khan, who had scored 389 runs in the tournament before the final, was bowled by Sufiyan Muqeem for just eight.

𝐆𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐤 🤯

Nahid Rana gets the big fish and Zalmi are dominating the HBL PSL 11 final 🔥#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/Zbg1weYmXv

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

What followed was a dramatic collapse as Kingsmen, after reaching 71 for two, lost four wickets for just one run, paying the price for poor running between the wickets. Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Niazi and Kusal Perera all departed in quick succession, leaving the side reeling at 73 for six.

Michael Bracewell with a lethal direct hit to send Kusal Perera back 🤯#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/VSjjr9uNGi

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Hassan Khan and Ayub briefly steadied the innings, taking the total to 90, but Aaron Hardie struck again to end Hassan’s stay. Shortly afterwards, Naheed Rana removed Hunain Shah for nine.

Ayub, however, continued his lone resistance and brought up a fighting half-century, scoring 54 off 50 balls, before his innings ended when Hardie claimed his third wicket.

Aaron Hardie's four-fer and Nahid Rana's two wickets restrict Hyderabad Kingsmen to 129 all out.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvHK pic.twitter.com/9IE9th6ZDt

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) May 3, 2026

Kingsmen were eventually bowled out for 129 in 18 overs.

Hardie was the standout bowler, finishing with four wickets for 27 runs, while Naheed Rana picked up two wickets.

PM Shehbaz graces PSL final at Gaddafi Stadium

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at Gaddafi Stadium to witness the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and graced the occasion.

The prime minister, accompanied by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, met players of both teams and exchanged handshakes ahead of the match.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets the players of Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen, the finalists of the PSL 11 at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on 3 May 2026. pic.twitter.com/z095PZNMYE

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 3, 2026

Before the start of play, the premier and the PCB chairman also posed for a photograph with the captains of the two finalist sides.

The premier appreciated the hard work and dedication of both teams in reaching the final and extended his best wishes for the contest.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif with the captains of Peshawar Zalmi & Hyderabad Kingsmen along with the Trophy of PSL 11. Lahore, 3 May, 2026. pic.twitter.com/nOyLCYiX2m

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 3, 2026

Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Abdul Aleem Khan and Rana Mubashir Iqbal, along with Special Assistant Talha Burki, were also present on the occasion.