Lahore, May 3, 2026: A dramatic middle-order collapse, including two costly run-outs, saw debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen bowled out for a below-par 129 against Peshawar Zalmi in the final of the HBL Pakistan Super League at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Zalmi captain Babar Azam saw his decision pay immediate dividends as the 2017 champions produced a disciplined bowling display to restrict the Kingsmen to 129 all out in 18 overs.
The innings began shakily for Hyderabad, with left-handed opener Maaz Sadaqat (11) dismissed early by Mohammad Basit in the second over, leaving the side at 16 for 1.
A brief recovery followed as Saim Ayub and skipper Marnus Labuschagne added 35 runs off 19 balls to stabilise the innings. However, Labuschagne’s stay ended in the fifth over when he was caught behind off Aaron Hardie after scoring a brisk 20 off 12 deliveries, including three boundaries and a six.
Saim then shared a 20-run stand with Usman Khan (8), but the momentum shifted again when Usman was trapped lbw by PSL 11’s leading wicket-taker Sufiyan Muqeem in the seventh over.
The dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse, with Hyderabad losing three wickets in just eight deliveries — including two run-outs — as they slumped to 73 for 6 inside eight overs.
Lower-order resistance came briefly through Hassan Khan (12), who added 17 runs with Saim for the seventh wicket, before being dismissed by Hardie in the 10th over.
Saim Ayub held the innings together with a patient and crucial knock, forming small partnerships with Hunain Shah (9) and Mohammad Ali, but eventually fell to Hardie on the first ball of the 18th over. He top-scored for Hyderabad with a composed 54 off 50 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.
Hardie struck again in the same over to dismiss Akif Javed (5), wrapping up the innings and sealing a dominant bowling performance for Zalmi.
Aaron Hardie emerged as the standout performer with the ball, returning exceptional figures of 4 for 27 in his four overs. He was well supported by Nahid Rana, who claimed two wickets, while Basit and Muqeem chipped in with one wicket each as Zalmi took firm control of the PSL 11 final.
