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PSL final: Mohsin Naqvi hands trophy as Babar Azam lifts first T20 title as captain
TL;DR
Babar Azam led Peshawar Zalmi to victory in the PSL 11 final, securing his first T20 title as captain. Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets, ending a title drought since 2017.
Key points
- Babar Azam captained Peshawar Zalmi to their second PSL title
- Zalmi won the final against Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets
- This victory ended Zalmi's title drought since 2017
- Aaron Hardie was a standout performer with both bat and ball
- Babar Azam's dismissal for a golden duck put Zalmi under early pressure
Peshawar ZalmiHyderabad KingsmenBabar AzamAaron Hardie
NEW DELHI: Babar Azam finally enjoyed his breakthrough moment as captain, with the relief evident on his face. Peshawar Zalmi ended their long title drought by beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the PSL 11 final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, where Mohsin Naqvi presented him with the trophy.
This win marked Zalmi’s second league title and their first since 2017. Although Babar had already tasted PSL success twice before, this was his first trophy as a leader, making it particularly meaningful.
The final belonged to Aaron Hardie, who played a decisive role with both ball and bat. He broke Hyderabad’s batting with figures of 4 for 27, restricting them to 129 in 18 overs. Saim Ayub tried to hold things together with a fighting 54, but regular wickets hurt Hyderabad’s chances.
The chase didn’t begin well for Zalmi. They were reduced to 40 for 4 in quick time, and the early dismissal of Babar for a golden duck put them under pressure. Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell also fell cheaply, leaving the side in trouble.
Hardie then stepped up again, this time with the bat. Playing a calm yet attacking knock, he scored an unbeaten 56 from 39 balls, finding the boundary regularly. He built a crucial partnership of 85 runs with Abdul Samad, who contributed 48. Their stand turned the game around and brought Zalmi within touching distance of the target.
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Zalmi completed the chase in just 15.2 overs, wrapping up a dominant campaign in style. They had been the standout team throughout the tournament, losing only once, with Babar also matching Fakhar Zaman’s record for most runs in a single PSL season.
Player of the Tournament: Sufiyan Muqeem (Peshawar Zalmi) – 22 wickets
Most Runs (Orange Cap): Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 588 runs
Most Wickets (Purple Cap): Sufiyan Muqeem (Peshawar Zalmi) – 22 wickets
Player of the Match in the final: Aaron Hardie
Champions: Peshawar Zalmi
Runners-up: Hyderabad Kingsmen (debutant)
Q&A
How did Peshawar Zalmi win the PSL 11 final against Hyderabad Kingsmen?
Peshawar Zalmi won the PSL 11 final by chasing down a target of 130 runs, finishing with a five-wicket victory despite a shaky start.
What was Babar Azam's performance in the PSL 11 final?
Babar Azam was dismissed for a golden duck in the final, but he lifted the trophy as captain, marking his first T20 title as a leader.
Who played a key role in Peshawar Zalmi's victory in the PSL final?
Aaron Hardie was instrumental in Zalmi's victory, taking 4 wickets for 27 runs and contributing significantly with the bat.
