In-form Tait reaches T20 milestone

Shaun Tait has become the second Australian bowler to take 200 wickets in Twenty20 cricket, achieving the milestone in his Pakistan Super League debut.

The 32-year-old quick, playing for Peshawar Zalmi, took two crucial wickets in a match against Islamabad United at Dubai International Stadium on Friday night.

After being hit for consecutive fours, Tait removed Islamabad opener Sharjeel Khan in the first over, then returned in his second spell and dismissed Ashar Zaidi for the 200th wicket of his career.

Tait became just the 14th bowler in the world to reach a double-century of wickets in 20-over cricket. Dirk Nannes (257) is the only other Australian who has 200-plus wickets in the game’s shortest format. Lasith Malinga is the leading wicket-taker with 295.

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Tait, who took 10 wickets at an average of 24.70 for the Hobart Hurricanes in the recent Big Bash League, took his BBL form into the PSL by bowling a match-winning spell that helped Peshawar defend 145 against an Islamabad side led by Pakistan’s Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coached by Dean Jones.

Interestingly, Tait was not picked by any team in the PSL draft in December due to his commitment with the Masters Champions League, a T20 tournament in the UAE

featuring retired and inactive international players.

But when he became ineligible for the MCL after his call-up in Australia’s squad for the T20 series against India last month, he was picked up by Peshawar, who were looking for a replacement for England all-rounder Chris Jordan.

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Peshawar captain Shahid Afridi played with Tait for South Australia in 2009-10 and at the Melbourne Renegades in 2011-12.  West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy, who was Tait’s teammate during his stint with the Hurricanes, is also playing for Peshawar Zalmi.

The second leading run-getter in T20s, Brad Hodge, is another Australian who is part of the Peshawar team and will join the squad after finishing his stint in the MCL.

Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, who are with Islamabad United, are the remaining two Australians in Dubai for the PSL. Watson hasn’t had any notable performances in the two matches so far, and Haddin is yet to play as Islamabad prefer England’s emerging wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings over him.

Peshawar will play their second match of the tournament against Lahore Qalandars on Saturday night in Dubai.