After taking two wickets with tight bowling in the first three overs, Taskin conceded four sixes in the fourth.
Two very different versions of Taskin Ahmed were on display in the same match. He was outstanding in the powerplay, picking up two wickets with disciplined bowling across his first three overs. But the fourth over told a different story, as he was hit for four sixes, leaving his final bowling figures looking far less impressive.
Playing for Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20 on Monday, the Bangladesh pace star finished with figures of 2 for 41 from four overs against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Taskin was excellent early on. He gave away just eight runs while taking two wickets in his first two overs, followed by another economical third over that cost eight runs. However, in the slog overs, he leaked 25 runs in the final over of his spell.
At the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Knight Riders struggled after winning the toss and opting to bat, eventually managing 134 for 9.
Sharjah Warriors made hard work of what looked like a comfortable chase but eventually secured a four-wicket victory off the final ball.
Warriors captain Sikandar Raza handed Taskin the new ball, bringing him on in the very first over. Phil Salt failed to score from the opening three deliveries before edging the fourth ball for four. The fifth delivery was dot, and on the final ball of the over, Taskin struck. Salt attempted to loft a delivery outside off stump but mistimed it, with Adil Rashid running in from cover to take a superb catch.
In the second over, UAE left-arm pacer Wasim Akram removed Brandon McMullen with a sharp inswinger, trapping him lbw.
Taskin returned in the third over, where Alex Hales smashed the first ball—pitched outside off stump—for four. Taskin responded immediately, dismissing Hales on the very next delivery as the batter drove loosely to cover, where Ethan D’Souza took a low catch.
The remaining four balls of the over were tightly bowled, with Alishan Sharafu unable to score.
Wasim struck again in the fourth over, dismissing Liam Livingstone for a duck without conceding a run. At that point, his figures read an impressive 2–1–2–2.
Taskin’s fifth over went for eight runs, with Sharafu hitting boundaries off the second and final balls. Still, Taskin managed to keep him quiet for the other four deliveries.
By the end of the powerplay, Knight Riders were reeling at 28 for 4.
Taskin returned for his final over in the 19th over of the innings, with Knight Riders at 104 for 7.
Andre Russell opened the over by smashing a length delivery outside off stump for six over long-off. A well-directed yorker followed, producing no run. Russell then cleared long-on with a slower delivery for another six, before taking a single off the fourth ball. The final two length deliveries were launched for sixes by Jason Holder.
Adil Rashid cleaned up the final over, conceding just five runs while dismissing both batters. The English leg-spinner finished with match-best figures of 3 for 18 from four overs.
This is Taskin’s first season in the UAE-based franchise league. He went wicketless in his debut match, conceding 39 runs in four overs. In the next game, he picked up one wicket for 34 runs. His third outing brought three wickets but at the cost of 40 runs. In the fourth match, he impressed with figures of 2 for 20 from four overs.
Continuing that trend, Taskin started strongly once again, but the 30-year-old pacer was unable to maintain the momentum through to the end.
