Making his debut in an overseas league, Bangladesh’s leg-spinner lit up the field with the ball, helping his team secure a victory.
Rishad Hossain made an impressive start to his Pakistan Super League (PSL) journey, grabbing three wickets in his very first match. His standout bowling performance played a crucial role in his team’s win.
On Sunday in Rawalpindi, Rishad bowled four overs for Lahore Qalandars against Quetta Gladiators, conceding 31 runs and picking up 3 wickets. He also delivered 10 dot balls.
It was Lahore’s first win of the season after a tough start. Backed by a massive 219-run total, the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led side cruised to a 79-run victory.
Shaheen Afridi, Asif Afridi, and Sikandar Raza also chipped in with two wickets each as Quetta were bowled out for 140.
Chasing a big target, Quetta lost four wickets within the first six overs, scoring just 54. Rishad was brought into the attack in the seventh over, giving away just 7 runs without conceding a boundary.
In his second over, the first three balls went for three singles. On the fourth delivery, Rilee Rossouw smashed a six, but Rishad, showing great composure, bowled the South African batter with a googly on the very next ball. That over ended with 9 runs.
Bowling a continuous spell, Rishad’s third over saw Akeal Hosein hitting a six, with the over costing 9 runs again.
He saved the best for last. In his final over, he picked up two more wickets. He bowled Mohammad Amir on the first delivery. After being hit for a six on the third ball, he dismissed Abrar Ahmed, who was caught at deep backward square leg attempting a sweep. He gave no runs in the last two deliveries.
This is Rishad’s first appearance in a foreign league. Though he was selected in the Global T20 and Big Bash League last year, he couldn’t participate for various reasons. This time, he received permission to join PSL mid-season, despite being involved in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
Though he didn’t play in Lahore’s first match, he seized his opportunity this time and made a strong statement.
