ah, and that's that! Wahab digs in another bouncer, but he's over-stepped and the umpire signals no-ball to bring the match to an end
Zalmi vs Gladiators, 23rd Match at Abu Dhabi, PSL, Mar 04 2019 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Gladiators won by 8 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
6.56pm The Watson show comes to an end! He's played some strong hands in this tournament, with scores of 81* and 61 previously, but this was the best of the lot. His unbeaten 91 has turned what could have been a tricky chase into a very simple one. He was well supported by Ahmed Shehzad, who didn't look at his best but nonetheless contributed 50 to a match-winning 129-run stand. Had Zalmi had a few more spinners to turn to, and had they held their catches, the result could have been different. But as it is, this win takes Gladiators to the top of the points table. Shane Watson is named Player of the Match.
"That was a beautiful wicket to bat on," says Watson. "A bit of pace and bounce in it, and something closer to what I'm used to in Australia. One of those days where things go to plan. I enjoy batting second."
Faizan Abbas: "Wahab last ball was no ball. In the next match will the first ball consider as the free hit or a normal delivery?" -- No, there's no carry-over in that regard!
Abhijato: "Watson rolled back the years more effectively than a VHS tape, and one-upped fellow veteran Kamran Akmal. Both teams are more or less through to the knockouts, and hence will gladly take positives as well as the negatives from the match - Shahzad is still a decent anchor, Pollard is in form, and his blitzes have not been one-offs. Akmal has shown he still has some, and might peak in time for the business end of the tournament. Also, you can't always depend on Hasan Ali if you want to win the PSL"
the scores are level, but Wahab continues to give Watson no quarter, digging in another bouncer to send him ducking for cover
Watson hurrying now with the finish line in sight, chopping a cut down to third man for another boundary
Wahab keeps Watto honest with a nippy bouncer that forces the batsman to take evasive action ... but it's dug in too short, and called wide
how has this gone for six? Watson jams his bat down on what looked like a bouncer, and somehow lifts it up and over backward point for six. That must be a very good bat. He had plenty of pace to work with too
slapped through cover, and they're back for a second
Abhijato: "Would just like to inform anyone following the match that Imran Tahir will retire after this World Cup. Hopefully, he can turn into a caped franchise crusader like Watson after the tournament, and come to the PSL where he will like the tracks. He's been the most sensational LOI spinner the Proteas have ever had in their team. Here's to hoping this World Cup gives him many reasons to run all the way to Cape Town. Cheers, Imran!"
hoicked out of wide long on! Rossouw muscles a full one well over the boundary to raise the 150
punched firmly back at the bowler, who can't get his hands behind it and allows a single
Hadi: "Just joined in. Quetta have been smooth! Quite surprising to see a much much better crowd in AD than Dubai. Surprising because AD stadium is far away and reachability is not as close and as easy as Dubai stadium. Good to see some crowd turn up on a working day!"
flicked through midwicket with plenty of bottom hand for one more
thrashed out through cover, but straight to the sweeper at the boundary
Omair Patel: "Since Corey Anderson bouncer has hit Ahmed Shehzad on head, He is not the same Ahmed Shehzad. Something has happened to him."
round the stumps comes Hasan, Rossouw working with the angle to glance the ball into the leg side
slower bouncer from Hasan, and Watson's through his pull too early but flexes his pecs to collect a quick single off the body
Mohammed Taha U: "The issue with many of these players - Kamran Akmal, Shehzad etc - is that they don't want to inherit the team spirit that Arthur has implemented on the team. None the less Akmal isn*t a better keeper than Saf and both imam and fakhar are better openers than Shehzad. Umar Akmal is the only player that is "needed" in pak team to challenge Asif Ali"
Rossouw's off the mark with a boundary, double-stepping the tall quick and slashing outside off to send a thick edge bouncing down to third man
bowled him! Umaid sprints in and delivers his best ball of the day, a quick yorker at 140km/h. Shehzad has a go at it, but the ball zips under his bat and clatters into the stumps
nurdled to leg for one more
Zain: "Putting aside all the trolls, I think Ahmed Shehzad has played a safe innings here and allowing Watson to be the aggressor which resulted in a good partnership between the two but yeah he is capable of making T20 into the test match, No offense just a little troll :P"
swatted into the leg side, and Shehzad finds a single to raise his fifty
slower ball yorker, the ball almost dipping past Watson's push down the ground but connecting with the very bottom of the bat
Ali Hashmi: "Oo Liam, thy commentary brings joy and warmth in gloomy and chilly winter morning in Toronto (-10C temperature here). Loving the way Watto is batting." -- Wow, -10 does not sound too friendly. Get the covers on!
flicked off the toes for a single to midwicket
hurled way down the leg side, past the batsman, past the keeper and away for five wides
Shahzad Iftikha: "Similar to Finch, test cricket didn't helped Shahzad's cause, He was way more fearless and aggressive in the limited version before. "
Watson backs away from a slower ball, but the ball dies off the track and scoots under his attempted cut
Over 18 • QG 166/2
Gladiators won by 8 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)