Watch- Wanindu Hasaranga and Waqar Salamkheil involved in a fight in ILT20 2024

Afghanistan Chinaman Waqar Salamkheil had a harsh choice of words for Sri Lanka’s all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga after the former claimed the latter’s wicket during International League T20 clash between MI Emirates and the Desert Vipers at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Wanindu Hasaranga had a forgettable night with the ball during the 1st innings when the home team posted a fighting total of 189 after initially suffering a top-order collapse. Hasaranga’s outing was pretty similar to that of his teammates, who were battered throughout the night.

Vipers’ skipper Colin Munro had won the toss and asked MI Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran to go out and bat first in what proved to be a batting-friendly pitch for the latter team. Their Sri Lankan opening batter Kusal Perera (65 off 46) got the team off to a fantastic start despite his partner Muhammad Waseem departing after scoring just 7 off 6.

Then Andre Fletcher could only show glimpses of his attacking style of play before falling prey to Nathan Sowter for 11 off 9. Number 4 batter Ambati Rayudu who also represented the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, had a decent outing with the bat, scoring 44 off 38 deliveries at a strike rate of 115 including 5 fours and a six.

After his departure, aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran went all guns blazing against the Vipers’ bowling attack. Pooran smacked a quickfire 39 off 15 balls at an unbelievable strike rate of 260. His power-hitting ability helped him dispatch 4 sixes and score 3 fours, with the Emirates posting 188.

In terms of the Desert Vipers’ bowling, then all of them had one thing in common and that was, all of them were shattered and battered by MI batters. Main man Mohammad Amir had figures of 2/29 in his 4 overs while Nathan Sowter, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, and Luke Wood, all leaked runs at an economy rate of over 7.

The most expensive bowler for them was the Englishman Luke Wood who conceded 46 runs in his 3 overs while Hasaranga went for 30 runs in his 4 overs with a wicket of countryman Kusal Perera.

In the 2nd innings when the Vipers came out to bat, UAE international batter Rohan Mustafa got out in the 2nd ball of the 1st over before his partner Alex Hales joined him in the dugout in the final delivery of the 2nd over for 6 runs. Colin Munro whose decision to bowl first put them under immense pressure, got out with a pinpoint lbw from Fazalhaq Farooqi who eventually registered figures of 4/31.

Wanindu Hasaranga and Waqar Salamkheil Get Into Heated Altercation

The most entertaining moment of the match came during the final over of the powerplay when Wanindu Hasaranga tried to play an aggressive sweep shot off Afghani left-arm wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil. The Sri Lankan all-rounder had a very poor day at the office and it got even ugly after he lost his wicket.

 

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Salamkheil bowled a low bounced delivery which took the under edge off Wanindu Hasaranga’s bat to the gloves of Nicholas Pooran. The Afghani would then eyeball Hasaranga which the latter did not like and say unheard things in response.

The Vipers eventually went on to lose the match by 30 runs as they were restricted to 158/8 in 20 overs.