Here are five highlights from day one:
Raise your hand if you knew who Mohammad Nawaz was before the PSL started. In an interview on the sidelines of the match, Nawaz was at pains to explain that just a couple of weeks ago, he had been representing Pakistan-A in Dubai, when the England Lions had come to play, and that he had also been doing well for National Bank in the domestic circuit.
But if we missed those performances, this match made Pakistan sit up and take notice of a young left-arm spinner with immaculate control and a great cricketing brain.
Allowing only 13 runs in his four overs while picking up four wickets is a complete spinner’s performance, and it set up the match for the Gladiators. Shane Watson was foxed, Sam Billings given a dose of reality, Babar Azam made to look like Umar Akmal, and Imran Khalid suckered into a loose slog.
If his bowling was sublime, his composure in the middle-order was rather pleasing.
No loose shots, rotation of the strike to the other, well-set partner, and sensible running between the wickets spoke of a man who understood his game very well and read the match situation even better.
Pakistan’s need for spinning options is pressing, given the ban on Yasir Shah, but on the evidence of this match, perhaps Imad Wasim needs to be looking over his shoulders too.
The argument that foreign players will benefit greatly by playing Pakistani spinners in the UAE has much merit, but the value of Mohammad Nawaz taking out Shane Watson is even higher.
The PSL had thrown up its first bonafide young star and all of a sudden, Pakistan spinners’ cabinet does not seem bare anymore.
Anwar Ali’s first over had historic significance and he turned it into a maiden.
But it could have been worse had Shane Watson been able to pierce the off-side field. Thrice he slapped Ali’s short bowling, thrice it was blocked from going to the boundary.
One short ball was pulled to the boundary in the second over, but it was clear that Anwar was struggling with his length.
For more detail Gladiators vs United: 5 conclusions from the PSL opener
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