Peshawar Zalmi claimed their second Pakistan Super League title on Sunday, defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, completing a dominant tournament campaign in which they lost just one match throughout the league stage.

Peshawar Zalmi bowled out Hyderabad Kingsmen for 129 in 18 overs before chasing down the target of 130 in 15.2 overs.

Aaron Hardy was the standout performer, claiming four wickets with the ball before scoring an unbeaten 55 to seal the win, earning him the player of the match award.

Peshawar had entered the final, winning eight of their ten league matches with one washed out by rain. Babar Azam, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, had formed a record partnership with Kusal Mendis through the competition, while spinner Sufyan Muqeem finished the league stage with 21 wickets.

Hyderabad Kingsmen’s innings never recovered after their middle order collapsed rapidly. Despite captain Marnus Labuschagne contributing 20 and Saim Ayub top-scoring with 54, four wickets fell for just four runs as the power play ended. Hardy took four wickets, Nahid Rana claimed two, while Sufyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit chipped in with two and one, respectively.

Peshawar Zalmi’s chase was precarious early on, losing four wickets for 40 runs with Babar Azam getting bowled out on 0 runs. Hardy and Abdul Samad steadied the innings with an 85-run fifth-wicket partnership. Samad contributed 48 before falling, but Hardy saw the side home. Muhammad Ali was Hyderabad’s most successful bowler, taking three wickets, while Haneen Shah and Akif Javed claimed one each.

Fireworks lit up Gaddafi Stadium as Babar Azam lifted the trophy — the first PSL title of his captaincy career — nine years after the franchise’s maiden triumph.