Watch: 22-year-old Khawaja Nafay, playing his fifth T20 game, won the Player of the Match award for his 31-ball 60 not out against Lahore Qalandars yesterday (February 19), with his knock also containing two sixes of Haris Rauf in an over.

Khawaja Nafay, playing for Quetta Gladiators, walked out to bat at No.3 in the run chase of 188. His team had gotten a quick start, but two wickets in the space of three balls meant two new batters were at the crease. Skipper Rilee Rossouw soon departed for 18, and Nafay took it upon himself to see the team through.

He had scored six off the first six balls he faced, but changed momentum in the 11th over, bowled by Haris Rauf. The first ball was angled in at the pads and Nafay shuffled across the full-length ball to flick it over fine leg for a 97-metre no-look six.

Rossouw fell two balls later, but that did not stop Nafay from playing another big shot in that over. For the penultimate delivery, Rauf shortened his length and bowled wide of the off stump. Nafay leapt up and ramped it over third for another maximum.

There was no looking back for the batter thereafter. No other player that followed him made more than 20 runs or at a strike rate over 140, but he ensured the run rate never dipped, taking the Gladiators to a win in the last over. His innings contained three sixes and four boundaries and came at a strike rate of 193.55.

Nafay made his T20 debut last year and has a strike rate of 154.90 after five innings.

Watch Khawaja Nafay’s twin sixes off Rauf here:

Nafay, you beauty! 💫

Quick off the blocks as he hammers two massive hits 💥#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #LQvQG pic.twitter.com/nKL3ZVOGMm

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 19, 2024

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.