Nawaz, Hasan relive Quetta, Peshawar last-over thriller

Players talk about strategy, counter strategy and the factor of luck

Peshawar Zalmi lifted the Pakistan Super League (PSL) second edition's winning trophy but undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments of the event was their one-run defeat to the losing finalists Quetta Gladiators.

With seven runs needed in the last over, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz was given the ball by Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

Everyone thought the match was already over but then the unbelievable happened.

Nawaz on the fourth ball of the over got an edge from Chris Jordan which was caught by Sarfraz behind the stumps. On the next ball, Wahab Riaz tried to steal a single off a yorker but quick thinking from the wicketkeeper caught him short of the crease.

With two needed of the last ball, Hasan Ali arrived on the pitch and was run out too, and he thinks his dismissal and Quetta's win were all because of luck.

"My plan was simple when I walked in; I had to get two runs for the team," explains Hasan. "I was under a lot of pressure. Nawaz had given away 42 runs in the first three overs, but he was bowling brilliantly in the last over. I thought I had to get two or hit the ball for a four or a six, but he bowled a very good yorker and he was lucky that the inside edge hit my pad. So, we lost the match because he [Nawaz] got lucky that day."

However, Nawaz had different thoughts on the matter.

"He should have middled the ball, then I would not have been lucky. You did give a good swing but it didn't hit the bat nicely," said Nawaz.

Nawaz then explained what was going through his mind when he had to defend two on the last ball with Hasan batting.

"I had an idea that he would not go for placement to take a single. His backlift was going over his head; I knew he wanted to end the match with a six. So the plan in our mind was to bowl a yorker, and it did come out as a perfect one."

Hasan, the quirkier of the two, then jumped in to explain what he was expecting from Nawaz.

"I thought he will bowl a shorter length and try to get me out but he, cunningly, bowled a yorker. But I will say it again, he was very lucky that day."

Nawaz then told Hasan why he didn't bowl short and went for a fuller length delivery.

"I didn't ball short because the pitch was flat and a lot of runs have been scored. We were getting a beating from the batsmen, so bowling a length delivery wouldn't have done us good as the ball wasn't spinning. The ball was coming nicely on the bat, and if he would have swung hard the ball would have gone out of the stadium."

He continued: "He was thinking that he would hit me for a six off a length ball but [as a bowler] we have to stop the batsman from doing what he wants. A bowler has his plans too."

Twice bitten still not shy

The scenes of the aforementioned encounter were not new as in the first edition of the PSL, Quetta beat Peshawar by one run courtesy Hasan Cheema's brilliant final over. Hasan Ali was then also a part of the line up of batsmen who got out in the last over.

"When Nawaz was bowling the last over, the memories of the first edition's encounter were circling my mind," said Hasan. "We lost three wickets in that match too. So when I was walking towards the field, I was thinking what if we can't do it this time too. I couldn't sleep that night [after the loss] but I'll say it again that Nawaz bhai was very lucky that day."

When asked what if the same situation presented itself again, Hasan said: "I wouldn't let that opportunity go!"

Nawaz interfered and said: "Next time he'll definitely go for a single."

Here is the video of their chit chat - enjoy!