PZ vs HK: Peshawar Zalmi claim 2nd PSL title, defeat Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets

A second PSL title for Peshawar Zalmi. A dominant run from Babar Azam's team, who lost just one match on their way to the trophy.

Samad falls 2 short of a well-made half-century. Hardie saved Peshwar but Samad deserves similar laurels.

If Hardie wasn't going to get the 'player of the match' award for his four-fer, this fifty seals it. He takes Peshawar from 7/2 and 33/3 to past a hundred with his knock.

Hardie and Samad are inching closer. They've added 53 runs in 6.2 overs. One can't see how Peshawar lose from here.

Samad and Hardie have taken control. Peshawar is now cruising. Hyderabad needs a wicket before it gets too late.

Hardie has kept Peshawar in the game. He's scored 32 off 18. Because of him, Hyderabad are on their toes. He needs to bat for longer. And the others, need to bat around him.

That's a horrible shot from Bracewell. He looks to guide the ball towards third man but it isn't enough. Akif Javed has his first wicket of the day as Usman Khan dives to his left to take the catch. Peshawar now in big trouble.

Kusal Mendis walks back. Hunain Shah, Hyderabad's life saver, has sent the opener back on his third ball. A full swinging away ball way outside off that Mendis hits to the man at backward point. Peshawar is in a spot of bother now.

Michael Bracewell joins Hardie in the middle.

Aaron Hardie, who was the highest wicket-taker for Peshawar, has started his innings with 3 boundaries in his first 7 balls. He's released all the pressure built by the 2 early wickets.

That is one of the closest run-out calls you'll ever see. The third umpire sends minutes deciding whether Kusal Mendis was out or not after he dives to get in. In the end, he decides that the Sri Lankan batter is in millimeters.

What a start for Hyderabad. A good-length ball outside off, near the wide line, and Babar Azam has edged it to the keeper. He's returned to the pavillion with a golden duck. Hyderabad is on top.

Babar Azam gone on 1st ball 💔💔💔#PSLFinal #PZvHK #HKvPZ #HBLPSL11 #NewEra #BabarAzampic.twitter.com/CajHhlnYCG

— Fourth Umpire (@UmpireFourth) May 3, 2026

Four off the first ball of the chase from Mohammad Haris. But, two balls later, he holes out. Another full ball but Haris doesn't connect well. It goes high and gets caught at mid-off.

Unless Mohammad Ali takes a 6-wicket haul, Sufiyan Muqeem will end as the highest wicket-taker of PSL 2026. 

Sufiyan Muqeem has been one of the best bowlers in this PSL. 🫡

- Top wicket taker in PSL 2026 with 22 wickets and an economy of just 7.20. He has been ignored continuously by the selectors. This performance should be enough to select him in Pakistan.pic.twitter.com/SKi9m3fS3W

— Abdullah. (@Abdullahh_56) May 3, 2026

It was expected to happen earlier, but Saim still did well to hang in there and take the innings that deep. But then when he had to go for the big one, he was eventually caught out on the bowling of Hardie, for 54 from 50. And there you go, all out here/ Hardie gets his fourth wicket -- Akif Javed, who is also caught out. All done for 129.

His yorkers are causing a big problem to Saim as well. He ends his quota with figures of 2/22 and Hyderabad is still looking at three more overs.

With the way things are going, Hyderabad won't reach 150 also. Saim is not taking singles or doubles and is only looking for boundaries. He gets to his fifty in 42 deliveries now.

Nahid Rana can bowl yorkers at will. And he gets a perfect one against Hunain Shah, as he is castled for 9. Eight wickets down now, and the score is only 108.

It is only in the 13th over, that Hyderabad's 100 comes up. Saim is moving close to his 50 and there is still a lot of deliveries left in this innings.

Look, 8 overs are still left and the only batter left is Saim Ayub, who is playing on 37. What approach should he take from here? Should he go for the big shots or stay till the very end? 160 is needed for sure.

Aaron Hardie has his second wicket now. Hassan Khan is the man dismissed and this a terrible show by Kingsmen, who were going smoothly at 71/2. But the last 5 overs have seen 5/35 being recorded.

What is even happening here. Is there a bit of a controversy here, since Hyderabad have lost 4 wickets for two runs. Kusal Perera is run out. It seems there was a bit of a collison with Rana. BUt no it was as clear, as it gets.

Poor cricket by Hyderabad here. Same over of Muqeem produces two wickets; There is some confusion between Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub and the former is run out by Bracewell. And don't go anywehre. HYD batters are falling like a pack of cards. Now, Nahid Rana picks up Poor Maxwell, who is caught out for a golden duck.

What is happening here. First there is an appeal for an LBW, Usman Khan has been given out. Muqeem has produced a wicket for his side in the very first over. The batter tried to flick, but missed the line. He takes the review, but that doesn't change the decision.

Saim Ayub is making a big statement, as he hit Nahid Rana for a no look six. Saim is unstoppble for now. And it is a massive over to end the powerplay. 13 runs from it. Meanwhile, Sufyan Muqeem comes into the attack.

If Peshawar don't get wickets regularly, these two men -- Saim and Labuschagne can score at a rapid pace. And there you go, 50 is up in the fifth over itself. Labus starts with a six and a four. But he gets over-ambitious, and edges one straight to the keeper. There you go, Usman starts with a four, Hardie must be hurting with the treatment he is meted out.

Saim Ayub is batting is heart out. Het gets a couple of boundaries in Iftikhar's over, and that is not a good sign for Peshawar. This flow of boundaries need to be stopped. Another expensive over ends.

In the second over, It is Basit who starts with a boundary ball. Maaz has made up his mind, to go for the runs, and utilise the powerplay. Oh, and there we have a wicket. The batter is crammed for room, and his pull gets no value.

As has been the norm for Peshawar, It is Iftikhar who starts with his off-spinners. He has just been bowling one over and then goes away. Maaz gets a six in the over, while Marnus starts with a four.

Let us see how Babar marches his troops. He has been an excellent skipper, and marshalled his tropps really well.

Peshawar Zalmi (Playing XI): Mohammad Haris(w), Babar Azam(c), Kusal Mendis, Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Farhan Yousaf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit, Nahid Rana

Peshawar have won the toss and opted to bowl first. Sane decision by the skipper. He says, "We will bowl first. The pitch looks a little grassy and we will try to make use of it early on. It's a really good feeling, Lahore has always given us great support. We will try to entertain them as much as possible. We will try to execute our plans and try to play according to the situation, we will try to perform as a team. After the first two hours, you get idea about how the pitch is behaving. One change for us - Nahid Rana is back."

Yes now. It is happening now. Hopefully the match will start in time though. All these delays were not planned it seems, but are happening anyways.

Babar Azam and Marnus Labuschange enter the field for toss. But there is still bit of a delay due to the ceremony.

One has to really admire the way spinner Sufiyan Muqeem has bowled throughout the tournament. The lad has 21 wickets so far, and is looking good for a few more. Shadab Khan is second with 17.

Gaddaffi has been a good batting throughout, and dew could be a factor. So both the skippers could be looking to bowl first. Can we see a few changes in XI here?

Toss is only 30 minutes away. It should be a field first kind of a wicket. Let us see what happens there.

For a new team, who started out the PSL 2026 with four losses, it has been a miraculous trunaround. They lost one more against Islamabad United, but have never looked back from there. They qualified 4th, and have won the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, to be in final.

Peshawar have been the most consistent side in the competition. They have lost only one -- that too against Lahore Qalandars, while one was a wash out against Islamabad United. So, form is on their side.

This time around, in the closing ceremony -- stars like Atif Aslam, Ali Azmat, Aima Baig, at Sabri Sisters would be performing at the PSL 2026 final, as per Geo Super.

Hang on. Since it is the final, the toss will take place at 8 PM, and the match will start at 8.30. So we still have some time up our sleeve for the match. There is a closing ceremony scheduled.

This is nothing short of an achievement for Hyderabad Kingsmen, who are in their first season only, and are playing this PSL final, despite losing four matches on the trot.

Peshawar would be looking for their first title since 2017. It has been really long since they laid their hands on the trophy, and at the centerstage is Babar Azam, who is redeeming his T20 career.

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (C), Usman Khan (WK), Saim Ayub, Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Hassan Khan, Irfan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed.

Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris (WK), Babar Azam (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Farhan Yousaf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Michael Bracewell, Aaron Hardie, Abdul Samad, Khurram Shahzad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit.

The Gaddafi Stadium of Lahore is usually known to assist batters, but has seen balanced contests between the bat and ball in PSL 2026. While runs have come in plenty in the last few games. The captain winning the toss will be looking to bowl first as last few games played at this venue in PSL 2026 have been won by chasing teams, barring Hyderabad Kingsmen’s win over Islamabad United in Eliminator 2.

 

• Match: Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen, Final
• Date: May 3, 2026 (Sunday)
• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• Toss time: 7:00 pm (IST)
• Match time: 7:30 pm (IST)

Matches Played - 1

Won by Peshawar Zalmi - 1

Won by Hyderabad Kingsmen - 0

Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne(c), Saim Ayub, Glenn Maxwell, Usman Khan(w), Kusal Perera, Hassan Khan, Irfan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed, Sharjeel Khan, Riley Meredith, Maheesh Theekshana, Hammad Azam, Syed Saad Ali, Shayan Jahangir, Rizwan Mehmood, Tayyab Arif, Ahmed Hussain, Asif Mehmood

Mohammad Haris(w), Babar Azam(c), Kusal Mendis, Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Farhan Yousaf, Khurram Shahzad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit, Khalid Usman, James Vince, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shahnawaz Dahani, Brian Bennett, Aamer Jamal, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ali Raza, Abdul Subhan, Kashif Ali