In modern cricket, there are certain peculiar ways which bowlers celebrate their wickets. Sheldon Cottrell of the West Indies does the salute everytime he takes a wicket. Kesrick Williams uses the notebook signature every time he dismisses a batsman. Now, 19-year-old Afghanistan legspinner Qais Ahmad has a different way of celebrating a wicket. During the Big Bash League clash at Alice Springs between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers, Qais backflipped every time he took a wicket. On a sluggish wicket at Traeger Park in Alice Springs, Hobart Hurricanes chose to bat and they were boosted by a fine knock from D'Arcy Short who smashed 51. Ben McDermott, David Miller and George Bailey all shared vital stands with Short but Sydney Sixers fought back.
Sean Abbott was the pick of the bowlers with 3/20 and the likes of Tom Curran, Ben Manenti and Ben Dwarshuis took two wickets apiece as Hobart Hurricanes were restricted to 129/9 after 20 overs. In response, Sydney Sixers were jolted early when Daniel Hughes was run-out by Qais Ahmed but James Vince and Josh Phillippe steadied the innings. However, Qais had other ideas and he got good support from the other bowlers. Simon Milenko and Riley Meredith took the wickets of Vince and Philippe resepctively and Qais proceeded to rip through the middle order.
Moises Henriques was the first to be dismissed by Qais but the wicket of Curran was a classic legbreak which pitched on leg and spun across to hit off stump. The wicket triggered his backflip celebration. When Abbott and Dwarshuis was sent back by Qais, the bowler had taken three wickets in four balls. Despite some fight shown by Jordan Silk and Manenti, Hobart Hurricanes won the match by 25 runs.
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Qais, who had made his Test debut against Bangladesh in Chattogram, finished with 4/12 and was named the Man of the Match. Speaking after the game, Qais credited Bailey for the celebrations. "Feeling really happy to contribute. The captain encouraged me a lot, told me that this is a wicket that should suit you. It gave me confidence and I just stuck to the basics. I asked George and he said I can (laughs). So I did it," Qais said.
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