CPL 2020: Bravo reaches 500 T20 wickets, Tambe creates history
West Indies all-rounder and Trinbago Knight Riders’ Dwayne Bravo on Wednesday (August 26) became the first bowler to take 500 wickets in T20 cricket. The veteran claimed his 100th wicket in the Caribbean Premier League as well. In the same night, 48-year-old Pravin Tambe also created history.
Bravo’s 500th victim was St Lucia Zouk’s Rahkeem Cornwall, who has been opening the innings for the Zouks. Bravo didn’t stop there but went on to dismiss the in-form Roston Chase to claim his 501st scalp.
From 0 to 100 in eight years! The Champion, @DJBravo47 has smashed another landmark at the Queens Park Oval. #CPL20 #DJBravo #CricketPlayedLouder #Champion #DJBravo pic.twitter.com/kPyyZWlRFO
— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 26, 2020
Meanwhile, India’s Praveen Tambe created history by becoming the first Indian player to play in the CPL.
Tambe’s bowling analysis of 1 over, 15 runs and 1 wicket may look insignificant, but it will remain a cherished moment in Indian cricket.
The 48-year-old’s career has been nothing short of a fairy tale. At the age where most other cricketers turn to cricket coaching roles, the leg-spinner made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2013. At the age of 41, Tambe played his first senior-level cricket match. The success prompted his domestic team to take notice and he soon made his debut for Mumbai in first-class cricket. Tambe has played in two first-class matches and six list-A encounters.
CPL debut ✅
First over ✅
Maiden wicket ✅Pravin Tambe, at 48, is writing a special story!pic.twitter.com/1o0sbkZF4l
— ICC (@ICC) August 27, 2020
The dilemma with Indian participation
Indian cricketers are not allowed to turn up in overseas T20 leagues. Yuvraj Singh also had to announce his retirement in order to play in the Global T20 League Canada. Apart from Tambe’s appearance in the CPL, he had also taken a part in the T10 tournament played in Dubai. This led to his disqualification from IPL 2020 where he was picked in the auction by Kolkata Knight Riders. Incidentally, the same owners own the Trinbago Knight Riders team in the CPL.
Tambe turned up to bowl the 11th over of the Zouks innings. He was greeted with a massive six by Afghanistan batsman Najibullah Zadran. He hit another four on the penultimate ball which was followed by a wide. The leggie had the last laugh as he sent back Najibullah on the final ball of his spell. Kieron Pollard, at cover, caught the leading edge. TKR ended up winning the rain-curtailed encounter by six wickets.
