SHARJAH // Mohammed Nawaz proved an unlikely hero as he kept his cool to bowl Quetta Gladiators into the Pakistan Super League final in a thrilling finish at a sold out Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The Pakistan left-arm spinner, who first rose to wider prominence in this competition 12 months ago, had already gone for 46 runs off three overs when he was brought on to bowl the final over against Peshawar Zalmi.
They needed seven. He leaked five, taking one wicket and his team a further two in the last two balls, all of which meant Quetta are the first team through to Sunday’s final in Lahore.
The full flight manifest may be incomplete as yet. Many of their overseas contingent are certain not to go due to safety fears. But at least the Gladiators collective have their tickets booked for the trip to Lahore.
Peshawar could yet be there, too. Although they lost here, they have a second chance when they face the winner of Wednesday's second play-off between Karachi Kings and Islamabad United in Dubai on Friday.
Straight from the off, it was apparent this match meant so much more than those that had gone before. This is finals cricket, and the players meant business.
Some of it was combustible. Wahab Riaz, Peshawar’s fast-bowler, collided with Kevin Pietersen, then hit the Quetta batsman as he threw his run out attempt.
Hilariously, Pietersen’s batting partner Ahmed Shehzad was a would-be peacemaker. Like that was ever going to happen. Luckily Darren Sammy, Peshawar’s fun-loving captain, was on hand to defuse.
Pietersen responded by plundering a six off the next ball over the long square boundary, over the stand, and over to the other side of the road, too, endangering stationary traffic.
Both Shehzad and Pietersen were in fine touch. Shehzad’s 71 came in just 38 balls, Pietersen’s 40 using a mere 22.
Mohammed Hafeez hit a sparkling 77 in reply, but once he went, Zalmi somehow managed to botch the run chase.
In terms of the entertainment on the field, the PSL has been reaching ever greater heights as the final approaches.
Eight of the last nine league matches were decided in the final over. Three of those went to the last ball.
And in this first play-off, a return to the batsman-friendly pitches of the start of the tournament made for the second highest innings score to date.
And yet the product looks set to be greatly diminished when it does go to Lahore. It is not just the teams who are going to have to reshape their squads for the trip.
Sunset and Vine, the production company who have been in charge of the broadcasts so far, have decided against travelling due to security concerns.
None of the international commentators – Alan Wilkins, Mel Jones, Danny Morrison or Ian Bishop – will make the trip, nor will the Spidercam or its operators.
Perhaps more pertinently to the game itself, those handling the Hawk-Eye technology have also opted out. As such, the Decision Review System, which was only implemented at the play-off stage anyway, is likely to be a short lived PSL experiment.
Whatever form it takes and however it is presented, though, at least Quetta will be there.
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