PZ Vs HHK Highlights, PSL 2026 Final: Aaron Hardie’s All-Round Heroics Power Babar Azam's Zalmi To Title Glory

Greetings, we are back with another live blog as Peshawar Zalmi take on Hyderabad Kingsmen -- stay tuned for live updates.

PSL 2026 isn’t officially broadcast or streamed in India due to geopolitical reasons, but fans can follow highlights on official platforms and track live scores via apps and websites.

Weather conditions in Lahore are expected to be warm and dry on match day, with temperatures hovering around the late 20s to early 30s (°C). There is little to no chance of rain, ensuring a full match without interruptions. Evening dew could play a role in the second innings, potentially aiding the chasing side and making bowling slightly challenging under lights.

Peshawar Zalmi: 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.

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Saim Ayub, Glenn Maxwell, Usman Khan (wk), 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.

Peshawar Zalmi have won the toss and opted to bowl first tonight!

"We will bowl first," PZ skipper Babar Azam said. "The pitch looks a little grassy and we will try to make use of it early on."

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

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

The closing ceremony has led to a delayed toss and start to the match. The players finally emerge on the pitch and line-up for the national anthem. Match should be underway soon. Stay tuned.

Iftikhar Ahmed has the new ball for Hyderabad Kingsmen. Labuschagne and Maaz Sadaqat open for Peshawar Zalmi, and the latter welcomes the spinner with a huge six off the second ball. Labuschagne closes the over with a boundary. A good start from the batting side.

The dangerous Sadaqat goes!! It was a poor shot from the opener, pulling a short delivery by Basit straight to Abdul Samad at deep square leg. Saim Ayub, the new batter, opens his account with a boundary.

Saim continues the fast start for Hyderabad, hitting Iftikhar for back-to-back boundaries on the leg side. Despite the early setback of Sadaqat's dismissal, the debutants have continued to keep the run rate high inside the powerplay.

A 16-run over but Aaron Hardie gets the breakthrough as Marnus Labuschagne falls for 20. Trying to cut again, he gets a thick edge through to the keeper, timely strike just when he looked dangerous. Despite the wicket, Usman Khan makes an immediate impact with a fearless boundary, while Saim Ayub keeps the scoreboard ticking. Momentum mixed, but still a strong start overall.

Chaos for Kingsmen in the final. What an over from Sufiyan Muqeem, just 3 runs and two wickets. He traps Usman Khan plumb in front with a sharp googly, and then complete confusion leads to a run-out as Irfan Khan is caught short after a mix-up with Saim Ayub. Add to that Maxwell’s earlier dismissal, and Kingsmen are suddenly in deep trouble. From a strong start to losing quick wickets, the pressure of the final is clearly kicking in.

Chaos continues, Zalmi all over Kingsmen. Nahid Rana delivers a game-changing over, picking up Maxwell for a golden duck and triggering more panic in the middle. Another mix-up results in Kusal Perera being run out, adding to the collapse as Kingsmen lose wickets in clusters. From a strong start, they’re now 6 down with pressure mounting from every ball. A boundary at the end from Hassan Khan offers brief relief, but Zalmi are firmly in control.

Kingsmen sinking deeper. Aaron Hardie strikes again, removing Hassan Khan just when he looked to inject some momentum. Charging down the track, he mistimes it and holes out, adding to the collapse. Just 3 runs and a wicket in the over, and Kingsmen are now seven down with plenty of overs left, desperately needing someone to hold the innings together.

Nahid Rana castles Hunain Shah with a fiery yorker that breaches Shah's defences. Saim Ayub is left to wage a lone battle for the Kingsmen, as they risk getting bowled out before the 20-over quota. Mohammad Ali at the crease alongside the southpaw.

There we have it. Aaron Hardie first dislodges the well-set Saim Ayub (54 off 50), then has Akif Javed caught behind off a bouncer to wrap up the Kingsmen innings inside 18 overs. A meagre 129-run total is all that Hyderabad have managed, and Peshawar Zalmi would fancy chasing this down to lift the title.

HHK: 129 all out (18)

Dream start for Hyderabad. Mohammad Ali strikes twice in a sensational opening over, removing both Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam to rock Zalmi early. Haris holes out trying to go big, while Babar falls for a golden duck, edging a wide delivery straight to the fielder. Despite a couple of boundaries, losing two key batters in the first over puts Zalmi under immediate pressure.

Hyderabad on top early. Hunain Shah delivers a tight over and strikes big, removing Kusal Mendis with a full delivery that shapes away and induces a thick edge to backward point. Just 4 runs and a wicket, with Bracewell managing a boundary but otherwise kept in check. With three wickets down inside four overs, the pressure is firmly on and Hyderabad have seized early control.

Zalmi in deep trouble. Akif Javed strikes again, removing Michael Bracewell with a loose drive that results in a thick edge, brilliantly taken by Usman Khan diving to his left. Just 3 runs and a wicket in the over, and Zalmi continue to lose wickets at regular intervals. With four down inside five overs, Hyderabad are firmly in control early on.

Zalmi trying to steady after collapse. Just 8 runs from the over, but Abdul Samad provides a spark with a clean six to keep things ticking. Aaron Hardie continues to anchor the innings with 34 off 22, holding things together after early wickets. Importantly, Hardie is already having a standout game, he picked up a four-wicket haul in the first innings and is now leading the recovery with the bat. Zalmi still under pressure, but this partnership is crucial from here.

PSZ 64/4 (8)

Zalmi building a strong recover. A productive over with 13 runs as Abdul Samad and Aaron Hardie shift gears. Samad continues his aggressive approach, while Hardie moves to 46, inching closer to a crucial half-century. The partnership is gaining momentum after early setbacks, and with both batters set, Zalmi are right back in the contest heading into the final phase.

Aaron Hardie reaches a well-compiled half-century, anchoring the innings after early damage. A classy flick for four gets him to the milestone, showcasing control and composure under pressure. Abdul Samad continues to support at the other end, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Just 8 runs in the over, but Zalmi are rebuilding smartly with a solid partnership taking shape.

The stadium is absolutely packed, full house, roaring crowd, and every moment is being cheered loudly. Perfect setting for a high-pressure final.

Wicket, but the damage is already done. Mohammad Ali gets the breakthrough, dismissing Abdul Samad for 48 with a slower ball, but the damage is already done. Samad and Hardie had already shifted momentum with a strong partnership. Despite losing a set batter now, Hardie remains at the crease on 55, and Zalmi still have a solid platform heading into the death overs.

Farhan Yousaf finishes it in style with a fine pull down the leg side for four, and that’s the moment, Zalmi clinch the PSL 2026 title. The dugout empties, players sprint onto the field, fireworks light up Lahore, and the crowd erupts. Even the rain joins the celebrations as Gaddafi Stadium turns into a sea of joy. A fitting finish to a dominant campaign!

A historic night for Zalmi as they lift their second PSL title, and their first since 2017, ending a run of three final defeats. It’s also a landmark moment for Babar Azam, who secures his first PSL title as captain.

The chase wasn’t straightforward despite the modest target. Mohammad Ali gave Hyderabad early hope with two wickets in the opening over, including Babar for a duck. But Aaron Hardie turned the game with a counterattacking knock, shifting momentum back. Even after quick wickets of Mendis and Bracewell, the crucial partnership between Hardie and Abdul Samad steadied things and took the game away.

Once that early pressure phase passed, Zalmi controlled the chase with ease, finishing comfortably as Hyderabad simply didn’t have enough runs on the board.

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