'Not everyday that you get 6 wickets'

Bangladesh and Barbados Tridents all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan celebrates taking one of his six wickets against Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel during the Caribbean Premier League T20 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados yesterday. Shakib's figures of 6 for 6 is the second-best return in T20 cricket. PHOTO: CPLT20.2013

A fabulous bowling performance by ace allrounder Shakib AL Hasan, who finished with career-best Twenty20 figures of six for six, and two well-judged catches in the outfield led his side Barbados Tridents to a four wicket victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in the Caribbean Premier League yesterday.  Red Steel were bowled out for 52 in 12.5 overs and the Tridents reached their target in eight overs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Shakib's figures are the second best ever in Twenty20 cricket and came close to toppling Arun Suppiah's record of 6 for 5 in Friends Life T20.
Shakib was involved in the match from the very beginning when he took two catches, one at mid-off and the other at third man, to help dismiss Red Steel's openers within the first three overs.
He struck gold with his first delivery of the match as he trapped Ross Taylor in front of the wicket in the sixth over. In his third over he bowled a triple wicket maiden as he ran through Red Steel's middle order. He first trapped Dwayne Bravo with an arm ball, then Nicolas Pooran edged one to short leg before Kevon Kooper, who had earlier survived a close leg-before shout, was bowled while attempting the sweep. Shakib came back in the to complete his quota of four overs in the 11th over for and took two wickets, bowling Samuel Badree with the straighter one and getting Kevin O Brien caught at silly point.
At the post match ceremony, when asked as to what Shakib did differently in the match, he replied: “I don't know! I think I just bowled in the right places and I knew that the wicket would offer some turn.  Some of them turned where as a couple of them went straight. I guess I was a bit lucky because it's not everyday that you get six wickets in a T20 game.”
“The three matches we played, the atmosphere has been terrific. I hope it remains the same in the other islands. We have a very good chance now to qualify for the semi-finals. Hopefully we'll win a couple more games and be in the semi-final,” he added.