HBL PSL: Shane Watson breaks Kamran Akmal’s record

Quetta Gladiators’ opener Shane Watson has broken Peshawar Zalmi’s wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal’s record for most sixes in Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) history.

By hitting Multan Sultans’ leg-spinner Imran Tahir for a six in the 14^th over of the innings during Quetta’s match on Saturday, Watson surpassed Akmal’s tally of 73 sixes in the tournament.

Watson, the most-sought after Twenty20 (T20) cricketer, has featured in all four previous editions of the HBL PSL. His best run, however, came in the 2019 edition in which he was awarded player of the tournament and played a crucial hand in helping Quetta Gladiators secure their maiden title.

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Watson was the highest run-getter in the tournament as he piled up 430 runs in 12 matches at a blistering strike rate of 143.81. The hard-hitting batsman averaged 43 – the highest amongst the top five run-getters in the edition – and cracked four half-centuries with 91 not out being his highest score.

Though he kept Quetta Gladiators fans on their feet throughout the tournament with his riveting knocks with the bat, his moment of the tournament came with the ball.

Asked to bowl the last over, his only rotation of the arm in the tournament, against Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier, with the opposition requiring 21 and a destructive pair of Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy on strike, Watson bowled Pollard to seal a berth in the final for his side.