Arif Yaqoob – first bowler to take four wickets in an over in PSL

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At the end of 17 overs, Islamabad United were 173 for 3 chasing 202. And then the major thrust to their innings fell. Azam Khan exited the stage for 75 off just 30 balls allowing room for a new hero to emerge.

Arif Yaqoob, 29 years old, playing only his 15th T20, produced absolute magic, picking up four wickets in an over of legspin. ESPNcricinfo recorded this swing in momentum using its Forecaster tool: in just those six balls, Peshawar Zalmi’s chances of winning shot up from 37% to 91%. Here is how it all unfolded.

We start in the 18th over, when the first domino fell

17.6 Naveen-ul-Haq to Azam Khan, OUT

Gottim! Good length, slanting in at middle, Azam wafts and it’s not through the line, Babar Azam at mid-off takes a brilliant catch under pressure. It’s really a fabulous catch and Peshawar are right back in the contest. Azam Khan will be gutted with himself to not get the job done. He was suckered with the hard length delivery and lost his shape while trying to smash him downtown.

Azam Khan c Babar Azam b Naveen-ul-Haq 75 (30b 6×4 6×6) SR: 250

18.1 Arif Yaqoob to Munro, OUT
Crowd roars as Peshawar pick another! Another set batter departs in quick succession! Yaqoob bowls a beauty, slow, mystifying and a tempting legbreak that never really arrived at him; Munro tries to insolently smash him over long-on and gets beaten by the beautiful guile, spin and he makes a complete mess of it while prancing down the track. Haseebullah with sharp glovework removes the bails in a flash and Munro has to take the long walk back into the pavilion. It’s proving to be another nail-biter!

Colin Munro st †Haseebullah Khan b Arif Yaqoob 71 (53b 7×4 1×6) SR: 133.96

18.2 Arif Yaqoob to Faheem, 1 run
Nicely bowled, not afraid to toss it up and give it flight, gets a decent amount of turn towards middle and leg, clipped off the pads to backward square

18.3 Arif Yaqoob to Haider Ali, OUT
TAKEN AT DEEP MIDWICKET! Zalmi are on fire. Tosses up a delicious legbreak turning away from off, tries to whip it over the leg side and just didn’t quite get it far enough. A major twist in the plot! Islamabad United collapsing like a house of cards. This is not sensible batting by any means, everybody has tried to swing frantically from the first ball

Haider Ali c Mohammad Haris b Arif Yaqoob 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

18.4 Arif Yaqoob to Imad Wasim, 1 leg bye
Floats a legbreak that has more twists than a mystery novel, Imad inverses his stance and tries to connect and wears it on his pads

18.5 Arif Yaqoob to Faheem, OUT
This is madness from Islamabad! Trying an unconventional reverse sweep and playing a poor shot to point. Luke Wood took some steps to his left and pouches it comfortably. Yaqoob running all over the place in jubilation! More was expected from Faheem who has ample international cricket experience but it’s poor shot selection and not judicious from Islamabad’s stalwart. Meanwhile, Arif Yaqoob gets a fifer! Look at him go, elation conspicuous on his face

Faheem Ashraf c sub (DR Mousley) b Arif Yaqoob 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50

18.6 Arif Yaqoob to Hunain Shah, OUT
What is going on out there! Hunain gets down on one knee and takes an almighty swing. The ball hangs in the air for a while but goes straight to Rovman Powell who catches it brilliantly in his big bucket hands. Suddenly there is pandemonium! Yaqoob continues to produce magic in a match-turning spell

Hunain Shah c Powell b Arif Yaqoob 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

From needing 21 to win in the final two overs, with six wickets in hand, United slumped to a defeat that few would have envisaged. Arif Yaqoob was responsible for that. Nine days ago, nobody knew about him. Now his name is up in lights

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