Quetta Gladiators’ choice to field first after winning the toss paid off handsomely as their bowlers dominated the Islamabad batters, particularly in the initial 60-run powerplay.
Despite Agha Salman’s efforts to steady the innings from one end, an unconventional move by Wasim Jr nearly caught him off guard, only for Jason Roy’s commitment to fair play to intervene.
In the eleventh over’s fourth delivery, Wasim Jr delivered a short-of-a-length ball aimed at the middle and leg stump. Agha attempted to guide the 140 kph delivery towards wide long-on.
The fielder swiftly retrieved the ball, aiming for a throw at the non-striker’s end. Meanwhile, with the batters crossing over, Salman appeared set to reach his crease comfortably, thanks to Jordan Coz’s refusal of a second run.
However, Wasim Jr, unaware of Salman’s position, instinctively removed the bails upon receiving the ball. As Salman endeavored to ground his bat inside the crease, the bowler’s presence obstructed his path, causing him to lose balance.
— Jas Pope (@jas_pope93438) February 22, 2024
Despite Wasim Jr’s inadvertent action, he appealed for a runout, leaving umpire Richard Illingworth and Rilee Rossouw, standing nearby, in a state of bewilderment. It was Jason Roy who stepped in and dismissed the appeal, thereby upholding the principles of fair play and sportsmanship encapsulated in the ‘Spirit of Cricket’.