Fawad Ahmed hasn’t ever been to the West Indies but the Victorian spinner reckons he’d do alright bowling there.
The Pakistan-born 33 year-old on Sunday posted a new best innings figures in a Sheffield Shield final, bagging 8-89 against Western Australia in a move that must make him a frontrunner for selection in Australia’s mid-year tour of the Caribbean.
WA still managed a handy first innings total of 421 on day two of the decider at Bellerive Oval, but with only a draw required for a Victorian title, the Bushrangers amassed 0-135 in reply.
“It was just like a lucky day for me,” the modest Ahmed said of his five wickets on Sunday, coming on top of Saturday’s trio.
“I bowled normally, like other days.”
Asked how he feels about the prospect of playing in the Caribbean, Ahmed was open to the idea.
“If I’m bowling well I think it doesn’t matter if it is (the) West Indies or anywhere else.
“I’m not sure at this stage what’s going to happen next but it’s going to be an honour to represent my country.”
Ahmed’s 8-89 eclipsed WA’s Chris Matthews’ 8-101 against Queensland in the 1987-88 final.
“We always try our best to take more and more wickets but I never thought I’m going to take eight wickets in this game,” Ahmed said of his result.
Despite the impressive performance WA posted a solid first innings total driven largely by century-making skipper Adam Voges (107).
After reaching his ton – his sixth for the season – on day one, Voges returned on Sunday for seven overs, when Peter Siddle (2-67) made the breakthrough, with a full-pitched delivery sneaking through to rattle the stumps.
Ahmed’s scalps included those of opener Marcus Harris (81), Sam Whiteman (72), Michael Klinger (18) and Shaun Marsh (six), along with four tailenders who were each dismissed for single-figure contributions.
“We’re pretty happy with 421 on the board,” Whiteman told reporters after play.
A half century from Chris Rogers (79 not out), helped Victoria make a strong start in reply.
He is supported by Rob Quiney (48 no) who was also unbeaten at stumps.
“The ball is starting to reverse, so it will definitely be tough starting on that wicket so if (we) can crack one of these openers then we might be half a sniff in jagging two or three,” Whiteman said of WA’s prospects with the ball.
Western Australia need an outright victory in the five-day fixture to claim the Shield.
Rogers and Quiney will resume for Victoria on Monday, when rain is forecast in Hobart.
