During the 15th match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024, Waqar Salamkheil produced a magical delivery to dismiss Quinton de Kock, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish between Barbados Royals and Trinbago Knight Riders at Kensington Oval. The moment came in the sixth over of the first innings, as Salamkheil’s mastery of spin left the dangerous de Kock clueless, further cementing the Afghan spinner’s impact on this year’s tournament.
A googly to remember
Salamkheil was brought into the attac♏k in the sixth over, and he💮 delivered what could arguably be the ball of the match. Bowling to the in-form de Kock, who was already racing at 39 from 21 balls, Salamkheil unleashed a perfectly disguised googly that pitched just outside the off-stump. De Kock, seemingly unaware of the threat, leaned forward to defend but was completely bamboozled by the sharp turn back into him. The ball snaked through the gap between bat and pad, crashing into the stumps. De Kock, left stunned by the unexpected turn, had to walk back to the pavilion, bowled by Salamkheil for a brisk 39, an innings that included three boundaries and two sixes.
Here is the video:
Waqar gives Quinton his walking papers. 🚶♂️
What a huge wicket for Salamkheil.
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
Salamkheil’s brilliance didn’t stop there, as he went on to take three crucial wickets in the match, playing a pivotal role in keeping Trinbago Knig𒐪ht Riders in the contes💧t.
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Trinbago Knight Riders’ nail-biting chase
Earlier in the match, Barbados Royals put up a fighting total of 156/7 in their allotted 20 overs after being sent in to bat. Skipper Rovman Powell was the star with the bat for the Royals, scoring a valuable 59 off 38 balls, which included two fours and five towering sixes. However, apart from Powell’s knock, the Royals’ batting struggled to find momentum against a disciplined Trinbago bowling attack, with Akeal Hosein and others keeping the runs in check.
Chasing 157 for victory, Trinbago Knight Riders chased down the target with just one ball to spare, finishing at 159/8 in 19.5 overs, clinching a narrow 2-wick༺et victory. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, Trinbago’s middle and lower order showed resilience under pressure. Hosein contributed with a crucial 20 runs, supporting the chase.
Hosein’s all-round performance proved decisive for Trinbago. In addition to his vital 20 runs in the chase, Hosein had earlier taken two wickets with the ball, further solidifying his reputation as a key player for the Knight Riders. For his impactful contributions with both bat and ball, Hosein was deservedly named the Player of the Match.
