Nahid, Hardie shine as Peshawar end 9-year wait to win second PSL title

A slightly expensive start did little to deter Nahid Rana, who roared back with pace, bounce and pinpoint yorkers to play a decisive role in Peshawar Zalmi’s five-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.

This is Peshawar's second PSL title, having first won it back in the 2017 edition.

The young Bangladesh pacer’s resurgence, combined with an all-round masterclass from Aaron Hardie, left Hyderabad Kingsmen with a small total of 129 all out in 18 overs. And although Peshawar stumbled early in a modest chase, Hardie and Abdul Samad stitched together a match-winning stand to ensure the win with 28 balls to spare.

Nahid returned figures of two for 22 from four overs, including a maiden. Hardie, who was named Player of the Match, starred with both bat and ball -- claiming four wickets for 27 runs before smashing an unbeaten 56 off 39 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries.

Peshawar, however, were in trouble early, losing four wickets for just 40 runs inside five overs. From there, Hardie and Samad forged a crucial 85-run stand off 60 balls to turn the tide. Samad struck 48 off 34 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes.

Nahid’s performance carried added significance. The pacer, who had impressed in the recent ODI series against New Zealand, had initially been rested for the T20Is by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). But considering the magnitude of a global franchise final, he was eventually cleared to participate in the PSL -- and he repaid that faith in style.

Introduced in the sixth over, Nahid conceded 13 runs, including a four and a six to Saim Ayub. But the response was swift. In his next spell, he bounced back brilliantly, dismissing Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck with a sharp, pacey bouncer in the eighth over.

He struck again in the 14th over, rattling Hunain Shah’s stumps with a searing 148kph delivery. That over yielded just a leg bye. Nahid maintained tight control in his final over -- the 17th of the innings -- conceding only four runs.

Overall, he picked up two wickets while giving away just nine runs across his last three overs, including a maiden.

Hyderabad, who once looked set at 71 for two, collapsed dramatically under pressure from Hardie and Nahid. They lost five wickets for just 19 runs to slip to 90 for seven, never recovering from the slide.

Saim Ayub held one end firm with a 54 off 50 balls, striking five fours and two sixes. But he found little support, with Maxwell, Usman Khan and Kusal Perera all failing to make an impact.