Who won PSL 2026 final? Peshawar Zalmi beats Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets to clinch second title originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Peshawar Zalmi win PSL 2026 final, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets.
• Aaron Hardie stars with both bat and ball to seal Zalmi's second title.
• Abdul Samad's 48 guides Zalmi home after Babar's golden duck scare.
Peshawar Zalmi clinch PSL 2026 title with a five-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen
Peshawar Zalmi are the champions of PSL 2026. In a final that swung wildly in both directions, Zalmi overhauled Hyderabad Kingsmen's total of 129 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, reaching 130 for 5 in 15.2 overs to win by five wickets, lifting the trophy for the second time in their history.
Aaron Hardie set the tone long before he picked up a bat. With the ball in hand, Hardie was unplayable, finishing with figures of 4 wickets for just 27 runs to restrict Hyderabad Kingsmen to a below-par 129.
He found movement, hit his lengths consistently, and took wickets at crucial intervals to prevent the Kingsmen from posting a total that would have put serious pressure on Zalmi's chase.
Zalmi's reply began in the most chaotic fashion possible. Mohammad Ali tore through Zalmi's top order in the very first over, removing both openers. Mohammad Haris was caught by Marnus Labuschagne for 6 off just 3 balls, and captain Babar Azam was caught by Usman Khan for a golden duck.
Kusal Mendis tried to steady things but managed only 9 before he was caught at slip off Hunain Shah in the fourth over. Michael Bracewell contributed 4 before Akif Javed ended his stay. At 53 for 4 inside the powerplay, Zalmi's chase was in serious danger of unravelling entirely.
MORE: Which team has won most PSL titles? Full list of champions and winners
Hardie and Samad turn the tide for Peshawar Zalmi
Hardie walked in under intense pressure and refused to let the moment weigh him down. He took the attack to the Kingsmen bowlers from the outset.
His innings of 56 off just 39 deliveries, packed with nine fours, was an exhibition of clean hitting and clear-headed thinking under pressure.
At the other end, Abdul Samad was equally composed. The left-hander scored 48 off 34 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes to build a match-winning stand that took Zalmi comfortably past the line.
Although he fell to Ali in the 15th over, the damage was already done. Farhan Yousuf hit the winning runs as Peshawar Zalmi bagged the championship in 2026.
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