Pakistan’s hard-hitting batter Ifthikhar Ahmed wreaked havoc in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2023 during a game between Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday.
Representing Barishal, Ifthikar demolished the Riders’ bowling unit in the 18th match of BPL, smashing an unbeaten century off just 45 deliveries with the help of six fours and nine humungous sixes. During his whirlwind knock, Iftikhar took his national teammate Haris Rauf to the cleaners, smacking the right-arm paceman for three back-to-back sixes.
It all happened in the penultimate over of Barishal’s innings when Rauf’s three deliveries were dispatched into the stadium. It started with the third ball when Pakistan quick went for a fuller length, and Iftikhar picked the white leather and slammed it over wide long-on for a maximum.
Rauf then bowled a good length delivery on the stumps, but the batter flicked the ball over the deep backward square leg fence for a six. Expectedly so, the fast bowler followed it with a short delivery, and it seemed Iftikhar was waiting for it as he pulled it over a deep backward square leg to get the hat-trick of sixes.
Here is the video:
Iftikhar Ahmad smashed 3 consecutive Sixes to Haris Rauf💥#BPL2023 #Cricket #pakistan pic.twitter.com/ke4W3gKBnA
— Muhammad Noman (@nomanedits) January 19, 2023
In the game, Iftikhar, along with Shakib Al Hasan, registered a record-breaking partnership for the fifth wicket. The duo shared an undefeated 192-run stand, breaking the previously held record by Adam Hose and Dan Mousley, who added 171 runs during a T20 Blast game in 2020.
On the bank of a dominating partnership, the Barishal posted a massive total of 238/4 on the board. In response, the Riders could only manage to reach 171/9, losing the contest by 67 runs. Shamim Hossain, with an unbeaten 44, was their highest scorer.
“It was my dream to get a hundred in T20s. The situation was ideal, and I went for it. (On his battle with Rauf) There is no animosity. It was a true batting pitch, and I took the attack to him,” said Iftikhar after the match.
