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Caribbean Premier League 2023

Watch: Afghanistan spinner strikes with first ball in CPL, takes 4-14 to rout Barbados Royals for 61 | CPL 2023

Waqar Salamkheil
by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

Watch: Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil claimed 4-14 in 19 balls on CPL debut to rout Barbados Royals for 61 at Bridgetown.

The Trinbago Knight Riders posted 194-5 after they were asked to bat by Rovman Powell at the Kensington Oval. Martin Guptill slammed a 58-ball 100 at the top, while captain Kieron Pollard made 46 in 32 balls.

Andre Russell (3-13) then halted Barbados’ chase, taking out Rahkeem Cornwall and Kyle Mayers for golden ducks within the first four balls. Akeal Hosein (2-16) and Sunil Narine (1-11) also got into the act. After the powerplay, Barbados were reeling at 30-4.

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Pollard then summoned Waqar Salamkheil, whose only international outing so far was against Ireland at Dehradun in 2019, as support for Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. He took 2-35 and 2-66 on that occasion.

In a four-year career, Waqar has played 25 matches, and never in the CPL. His last outing was in the SA20 in January, where he played only once for the MI Cape Town and clean bowled Faf du Plessis.

Here, he tossed the first ball of his spell up, and Powell hit it straight to Mark Deyal at long off. The over went for three.

Kevin Wickham hit a full toss for six in Waqar’s next over, but Waqar had his revenge next ball when Wickham chopped one on to the stumps.

In his next over, Waqar bowled a googly across the right-handed Nyeem Young, who did not read the variation. Beaten, he was overbalanced, and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker did the rest.

At 49-9, Barbados were in serious threat of emulating Trinbago’s 52 – the lowest total in CPL history. They averted that, but on 61, Obed McCoy hit Waqar to Nicholas Pooran at deep mid-wicket. Waqar finished with 4-14 as Trinbago triumphed by 133 runs.

Watch Waqar Salamkheil take four wickets against the Barbados Royals:

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