Nahid Rana helps Peshwar clinch PSL title after 9 years

Peshawar Zalmi rode a fiery spell by Nahid Rana to defeat Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets and lift the Pakistan Super League title at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, reports BSS.
Chasing a modest 130, Peshawar recovered from an early collapse to reach 130-5 with 28 balls to spare, securing their second PSL crown after their maiden triumph in 2017.
Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 129 in 18 overs after being sent in to bat. Nahid led the bowling charge with 2-22 in four overs, including a maiden. He used his pace and bounce to unsettle the opposition, a strategy that swung the momentum toward Peshawar.
Aaron Hardy, who was later named player of the match, delivered a match-winning all-round performance. The Australian all-rounder claimed 4-27 before anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls, striking nine fours.
Peshawar's chase got off to a disastrous start as they slumped to 40-4 inside five overs. However, Hardy stitched together a decisive 85-run partnership with Abdul
Samad to turn the game around. Samad contributed 48 off 34 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes.
Nahid's spell proved pivotal in restricting Hyderabad. After conceding early boundaries to Saim Ayub, the young pacer bounced back strongly, dismissing Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck with a sharp bouncer.
He later clean-bowled Hunain Shah with a 148 kmph delivery and finished with a tight final spell, conceding just nine runs in his last three overs.
Hyderabad's innings never fully recovered despite a fighting 54 off 50 balls from Saud Shakeel. Lack of support from Maxwell, Usman Khan and Kusal Perera left them short of a competitive total.
Nahid, who had recently impressed in the ODI series against New Zealand,
justified his inclusion in the high-stakes final after initially being rested for Bangladesh's T20 assignments.
Meanwhile, Fans flooded social media with celebratory reactions after Peshawar Zalmi’s title win, with supporters enjoying the franchise’s second PSL crown and praising a competitive, entertaining season.
Federal Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar was all praise for the
match, lauding the "great game of cricket" and the country's effort in staging another successful season of the PSL.