Nawaz stalls progress for Lahore Qalandars

He didn’t start the downward slide of the Qalandars. Rather, he ensured that they never came back up. Rahat Ali took care of Sunil Narine, while Archer got Fakhar Zaman. But momentum was still with Lahore Qalandars. Even with the wicket, Archer’s over had gone for 12 runs. 60 for 2 in 5 overs were the under achieving Qalandars.

On came Nawaz in the play power. It wasn’t really gripping to much but he started with a dart on around middle stump. Later we were by the man himself, it was plan ‘no width’. 2nd ball, McCullum couldn’t resist and jumped down the wicket trying to clip one to mid-wicket for a run. He missed. Even though the umpire was convinced, Sarfraz was and DRS sent the Lahore skipper on his way.

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Gulraiz Sadaf walked in, perhaps to give some space to the hitters in the later overs and work the ones, plan ‘rotation’. Rotate he couldn’t. For the next 3.4 balls, Nawaz became impenetrable. No nurdles, no clips, no drives, no sweeps. Delport tried a hoick. He hit it a mile, only upwards and not forwards. Anwar Ali, took a splendid catch.

And for the next two overs, Lahore Qalandars decided to dead bat him and just about survived. He finished with the most economical spell ever in PSL. Every year, Nawaz brings out a rabbit out the hat at PSL. Year one, we had that absolutely stunning delivery to Brad Hodge. Last year, he won a game with the ball, with only 7 runs to save. Years 3, he has a new record to his name. PSL seems to be his favoured playground.