Bangladeshi fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a composed and incisive spell to help Peshawar Zalmi dismiss Hyderabad Kingsmen for just 129 in 18 overs in the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore on 3 May, as Hyderabad’s middle order crumbled after a promising start.
Nahid’s evening did not begin smoothly. He conceded 13 runs in his opening over, but what followed was a masterclass in pace bowling under pressure. Over his next three overs, including a maiden, he gave away just nine runs and claimed two crucial wickets, finishing with figures of 2 for 22 from four overs.
The 23-year-old dismissed Glenn Maxwell and Hunain Shah in quick succession, using a potent combination of raw pace, sharp bounce and well-directed yorkers to dismantle the middle order at precisely the moment Hyderabad needed stability. It was exactly the kind of big-match temperament that marks out a bowler of genuine promise.
“He showed that he can handle the pressure of a big match very well,” was the assessment from those watching on.
Hyderabad had given themselves a platform from which a competitive total looked well within reach. Saim Ayub anchored the innings brilliantly, reaching his fifty off 42 balls in a knock of 54 that deserved a better return. But the foundation he built was never properly utilised.
Opener Maz Sadaqat departed early for 11 off 6 balls, showing promise before failing to settle. Marnus Labuschagne, coming in at the top of the order, contributed 20 off 12 balls, but neither he nor anyone else could provide Saim with the sustained support the innings required. From a strong position of 71 for 2, Hyderabad lost their remaining wickets for just 58 runs, bowled out before reaching 130.
Aaron Hardie was the pick of Peshawar’s bowlers, taking 4 for 27. Nahid’s two wickets were complemented by single strikes from Mohammad Basit and Sufiyan Muqeem as Hyderabad’s lower order offered little resistance.
Nahid’s presence in the PSL final was not a foregone conclusion. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had initially withheld clearance for him to continue in the tournament beyond the group stage, having rested him for the T20I series against New Zealand. However, the BCB subsequently granted permission for him to feature in the final, citing the significance of playing in a major global franchise competition as the deciding factor.
It proved to be the right call. Nahid had already taken seven wickets in his three previous PSL appearances this season after a difficult debut, and he rose to the occasion once more on the biggest stage of all.
