Table of Contents
Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi showcased his prowess with the new-ball during The Hundred 2023 fixture between Welsh Fire (WEF) and Manchester Originals (MNR) at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
The 23-year-old, who was picked in the second-highest price bracket in the 2023 draft, proved why he is one of the most feared left-arm pacers in world cricket currently.
Batting first, WEF posted a challenging total of 94-3, largely thanks to the explosive performance of their opener, Luke Wells.
Wells played a scintillating knock, smashing a blistering half-century off just 23 balls, which included seven fours and three huge sixes, leaving the spectators in awe of his batting skills. However, MNR’ left-arm pacer, Josh Little, impressed with the ball, taking three crucial wickets to keep the opposition in check.
Also Read: The Hundred Men 2023 Teams, Squads & Updated List of Players
Afridi takes The Hundred 2023 by storm on his debut
In the chase of 95 runs in just 40 balls, MNR needed a solid start. Nevertheless, Afridi had different plans as he struck twice in his first two deliveries, putting the Originals firmly on the backfoot. The Landi-Kotal- born cricketer marked his arrival in tournament in style by trapping Phil Salt and Laurie Evans leg-before wicket on two successive balls. He dismissed Salt with his characteristic inswinger that hit him right in front of the stumps, and his next ball – a perfect yorker – got the better of Evans.
The Hundred’s official Twitter account shared the video of Afridi’s first two deliveries with the caption: “This is @iShaheenAfridi, everyone #TheHundred.”
Here’s the video:
This is @iShaheenAfridi, everyone 🦅 #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/NGhPJZ9QqX
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 2, 2023
Although Afridi conceded 24 runs in his last 8 balls, it did not stop the Welsh from securing their first victory in The Hundred since 2021. Skipper Jos Buttler and Max Holden showed some resistance, both contributing with 37 runs each, but the rest of the batting order struggled to find their rhythm. In the end, they managed only 85-4 in their allotted 40 balls.
For WLF, David Willey and Haris Rauf impressed with the ball too. Willey picked up two wickets and conceded only 17 runs in 10 balls. On the other hand, Rauf could not pick any wicket but conceded only 15 runs in 10 balls.
Afridi performance in the upcoming World Cup 2023 on Indian soil will be crucial for Pakistan. The Pakistani speedster has already showcased his talent by achieving a significant milestone of picking up his 100th Test wicket in the opening game against Sri Lanka in Galle. His form and ability to take wickets will be vital for Pakistan’s success in the World Cup, and fans will be looking forward to his impactful contributions in the tournament later this year.
