Islamabad United 128-7 (20 ov)
Misbah 41, Russell 35 not out; Nawaz 4-13
Quetta Gladiators 132-2 (20 ov)
Wright 86 not out, Nawaz 22 not out; Khalid 2-20
Story of the match The story of the match is that it was not really the match that was the story. The story was that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) had finally begun and that, for a while, Pakistan cricket was the happiest place to be.
The opening match, between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, was actually a bit of an anti-climax. The surface, disappointingly, was slow and given to spin – for the latter stages of a Test it is perfect. For the inaugural game of a league you hope will change your fortunes? Not so much.
Sarfaraz Ahmed had no hesitation in choosing to bowl once he had won the toss. Correctly he had sussed that his spinners would serve him well. They did, and how. Mohammed Nawaz, a promising all-rounder and handy left-arm orthodox, crippled Islamabad United, ending with four for 13.
And though his figures were somewhat spoilt by Misbah-ul-Haq, Zulfiqar Babar was instrumental in ensuring Islamabad never got away. Only an entertaining sixth-wicket stand of 57 between Misbah and Andre Russell took Islamabad to a three-figure score. It was Russell, in fact, who enlivened proceedings, taking 20 off Umar Gul in the 18th over.
But 128 was never going to be enough, not with Luke Wright in the kind of form that he has been in, most recently in the Big Bash League (BBL). Duly Wright came out and batted as if he has not stopped batting at all, his timing impeccable. Islamabad’s spinners were lesser, but it looked a different pitch when Wright was batting.
He took to Mohammed Irfan and Russell especially, and before anyone had even noticed, he was on 50, off just 31 balls. Matters settled down, a couple of wickets fell and eventually Quetta only strolled, rather than romped, home.
Man of the Match You could make a case for both Nawaz and Wright to win the match award. But Wright had the match set up for him by Nawaz's bowling. Two of his four victims were big ones: Shane Watson up top and Babar Azam in the middle. At no stage did it look as if they could get him away.
He is actually a better batsman than he is a bowler and duly he came in towards the end, batting calmly in Wright’s slipstream and making sure he was there at the end. Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, rates him very highly, believing him to be the country’s next big all-rounder. Limited evidence on Thursday night, but compelling evidence.
The National verdict Before the tournament, Islamabad looked like they could be the side to beat so this loss, and the manner of it, has come as a surprise. Irfan carried his iffy form from New Zealand into the first game. Samuel Badree had a poor evening and Russell's bowling was some way below that. It is difficult to not see them coming good at some stage, but these pitches will not help.
Quetta looked confident, which, given Viv Richards was in their dugout, should come as no surprise to anyone. Their spinners will not always have this much fun, but with Wright in this kind of form, it may not matter.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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