Analysis of Shadab Khan's performance as leg-spinner delivers match-winning spell for Islamabad United in PSL final

Waseem Ahmed 23:24 25/03/2018
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  • Te 19-year-old delivered an outstanding spell to put Islamabad on top.

    Islamabad United romped to their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title with a three-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi in the final in front of a packed house at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.

    Young Shadab Khan was the match-winner for Islamabad, delivering an excellent spell of 3-25 as Peshawar were restricted to just 148-9 in their 20 overs. In reply, the eventual champions secured the victory with more than three overs to spare as Karachi hosted its biggest cricket match in nine years.

    Here, we analyse the performance of the youngster as he came to the fore at the most crucial time for the eventual champions.

    STATISTICS

    OVERS BOWLED: 4

    WICKETS: 3

    RUNS CONCEDED: 25

    ECONOMY: 6.25

    SIXES: 2

    30-SECOND REPORT

    The young Pakistan leg-spinner saved his best for the final. The 19-year-old showed what a wily customer he is in white-ball cricket as he used all the variations in his book to set Peshawar Zalmi back.

    Shadab ended up with a three wicket haul, going at just over run-a-ball . He used the quicker one and googly to devastating effect. Despite being tonked for two sixes early on, he didn’t flinch and produced a title winning effort.

    GOT RIGHT

    The youngster got plenty right on the night to put his team on top. Most importantly, it was his ability to keep calm under pressure as he stuck to his guns. Showed maturity beyond his years, turning up the heat after having a fairly quiet tournament.

    GOT WRONG

    Hardly anything. Was hit for two sixes but that was more to do with his willingness to flight the ball. Even the deliveries he got wrong worked for him. His final wicket came off a half-tracker as Umaid Asif missed the mark while attempting to pull.

    KEY MOMENTS

    OUTSTANDING START

    Brought on to bowl the final over in the power-play, Shadab started economically. After conceding just two runs off his first five deliveries, Shadab cut short Fletcher’s dangerous stay with a quicker one that didn’t turn to leave Islamabad reeling at 38-3 at the end of the power-play.

    The Caribbean batsman was initially adjudged to be not out after being struck on the pads but so confident was Shadab that JP Duminy went straight for the referral which proved the youngster right.

    JORDAN SMASHES TWO SIXES

    After a brilliant first over, Shadab was greeted by a huge six by Chris Jordan in his next one as a short one was deposited over cow-corner. He suffered the same fate from the same batsman in his third over, this time to a well-flighted delivery.

    TERRIFIC END

    Shadab saved the best for the last, delivering a game-changing final over. With Zalmi already rocking at 111-5, the teenager deceived Peshawar skipper Darren Sammy with the ‘other’ one. Delivering the ball at a good length on off stump, Sammy was beaten all ends up as it tailed back in sharply to beat the batsman’s inside edge.

    With his next delivery, the leg-spinner had Umaid lbw with a quicker one before Hasan Ali prevented a hat-trick.

    VERDICT: 9/10

    Having picked up only six wickets in the tournament coming into the final, the youngster chose the best time for a top effort. It is hard to believe he is only 19.

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