After Shaheen Afridi‘s historic four wickets in the first over of T20 Blast 2023, another Pakistani player Imad Wasim took everyone by surprise as he bowled a double-wicket maiden over in the 3rd quarter-final match of the English league on Friday (July 7). Wasim’s sensational spell came for Nottinghamshire in a last-over thriller against Somerset.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Nottinghamshire’s innings got off to a shaky start as Joe Clarke and Alex Hales departed early without contributing much to the scoreboard. Although Colin Munro showed some promise with a quickfire ten off six deliveries, wickets kept falling at regular intervals for Nottinghamshire.
Matthew Montgomery steadied the innings with a well-constructed knock of 51 off 38 deliveries, comprising eight fours. Wasim provided a late flourish with his blistering 31 off just 15 balls, including two fours and a six, helping Nottinghamshire finish their innings at 157/ 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Somerset’s bowling attack put up an impressive display, with Craig Overton being the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets while conceding only 23 runs in his quota of four overs.
Chasing a target of 158, Somerset failed to start well as Tom Banton and Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell early without making significant contributions. Both Banton and Kohler-Cadmore fell victim to Wasim’s web of spin, which eventually turned out to be a double-wicket maiden over for the all-rounder.
It all happened in the second over of the Somerset innings when Wasim trapped Banton off a slower delivery on the first ball of his spell as the latter tried to play a reverse sweep and misjudged it completely. Following the dismissal of Banton, the 34-year-old all-rounder conceded no run on the next four deliveries and then went on to clean up Cadmore with a ripper on the final ball, making the over a double wicket maiden.
Here’s the video
IMAD WASIM DOUBLE-WICKET MAIDEN 🔥#Blast23 pic.twitter.com/gkwAIZ8N4X
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) July 7, 2023
However, despite a few early setbacks, Will Smeed (22 off 18 balls) and Tom Abell (26 off 21 balls) steadied the ship and kept the innings going for Somerset. But it was Lewis Gregory who turned the game in Somerset’s favour with his exceptional batting display. He played a blistering knock of 57 runs off just 34 deliveries, which included one four and five sixes. Gregory’s aggressive approach put the Nottinghamshire bowlers on the back foot and tilted the match in Somerset’s favour. Ben Green (35) provided valuable support to Gregory and helped Somerset achieve the target with five wickets and three balls to spare.
With the win in the knockout game, Somerset have now advanced to the semi-finals of the T20 Blast 2023.
