Peshawar Zalmi win PSL 11 in a low-scoring final

Peshawar Zalmi have won their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title after defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of the eleventh edition. Zalmi, who had only lost one game throughout the competition, were favourites entering the final. However, Hyderabad Kingsmen were riding high on confidence after winning seven of their previous eight games.

Zalmi’s bowlers come in clutch

Opting to field first in a jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium, Zalmi bowlers conceded 69 runs for the loss of two wickets in the powerplay, their highest this season. But soon after the power play, things started going south for Hyderabad. They lost four wickets in nine balls, including two brilliant run outs. Saim Ayub kept resisting and ended up scoring his first half-century of the season. In the end, it was not enough as the score was grossly under par for Gaddafi Stadium’s batting-friendly surface.

Dream start but momentum fizzled out

After the sort of batting display they had, Hyderabad could not have asked for a better first over than what Mohammad Ali delivered. He dismissed both Zalmi openers, including Babar Azam, in the first over. Soon after, Kusal Mendis was removed by Hunain Shah. Zalmi were now without the players who had shouldered the burden of scoring for most of the tournament.

Aaron Hardie kept finding gaps to keep the asking rate low, and he succeeded in his plans. Soon, he was joined by Abdul Samad, and two batters, stable at the crease, are all that a team recovering from a collapse needs. Samad took a while to get started, but once he did, he and Hardie both brought out well-timed shots to clear the gap with ease.

The partnership ended Hyderabad’s rejuvenated chances, and from then on, it was all one-sided in Zalmi’s favour. Babar Azam lifted his first PSL trophy as a captain, and the crowd in Lahore made their enthusiasm heard.

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