‘It felt like I am playing in Pakan’: Shaheen Shah Afridi bags four wickets in one over
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first over is like watching a formula one race. Full of adrenaline rush. The Pakan speedster, who is playing for Nottinghamshire in the Vitality Blast took four wickets in the first over against Birmingham Bulls. However, despite his heroics Nottinghamshire lost the match two wickets in a rain-affected match.
It was not an ideal start for Shaheen, who gave away five wides with his first ball but then took wickets with his first, second, fifth and sixth legal deliveries.
Shaheen Afridi, you cannot do that!! 💥 https://t.co/ehXxmtz6rX pic.twitter.com/wvibWa17zA
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 30, 2023
Birmingham Bears skipper Alex Davies fall on the ground after he failed to negotiate Shaheen’s toe-crushing yorker. Next in, Chris Benjamin was clean bowled after he was trying to play the pre-meditated scoop. Followed two singles and another two wickets off the final two balls, Dan Mousley falling victim to a stunning one-handed catch Stone at short cover and Ed Barnard castled first ball another stunning yorker.
🗣️ Shaheen Afridi on a blering first over and a dramatic night under the lights. 👇#MoreThanAGame pic.twitter.com/sEX3Ssicka
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 30, 2023
“We deserved to win but they played well in the last few overs after the rain. It was the first time I took four wickets in my first over. It was good but if we would have won the game that would have been nice. Unfortunately we lost,” Shaheen said after the match.
“It felt really nice the way crowd was supporting me. When I was running in it felt like I am playing in Pakan. I have spent good time with my teammates, it is like a family.
“Rain delay affected the game. It changed the game. We were not able to grip the ball but that’s cricket you can’t control the weather,” he added.
However, despite his heroics Nottinghamshire lost the match tow wickets with rain playing a big part. Nottinghamshire also lost Olly Stone to injury, who limped off after bowling just three balls.
Rob Yates (65 off 46b) and some valuable contributions from Glenn Maxwell (19), Jacob Bethell (27) and Jake Lintott (27 not out) helped Birmingham win the match. Nottinghamshire also conceded 22 extras, which also didn’t helped their cause.
After being asked to bat Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 168 with Tom Moores (73) being the top run getter for his side.
For Birmingham Bulls, Pakan speedster Hasan Ali (3/25) was the pick of the bowlers. Spin duo of Jake Lintott (3/27) and Glenn Maxwell (2/20)n shared five wickets between them.
