Winter Watch: Afridi Three-Fer Ensures Brisbane Feel the Heat

Hampshire's T20 superstar claims three wickets in four balls

Hampshire’s Shahid Afridi tore through the Brisbane Heat middle order, claiming three wickets in four balls for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash competition in Australia. And by strange co-incidence, the final scalp was that of former Hampshire Twenty20 Final winner Dan Christian!

With the Heat moving along nicely at 71-2 in the 10th over Afridi arrived and, in typically stunning fashion, dismissed Chris Lynn (34) before a wrong’un bowled Peter Forrest through the gate for a golden duck.

The hat-trick ball was the opening delivery of “Boom Boom”’s subsequent over and although Christian shepherded that safely away, Afridi did strike again next ball as another delivery turned back and trapped the former Royals all-rounder lbw for just five, leaving the Brisbane Heat suddenly struggling at 74-5.

Then, set 169 to win the game, Afridi began well with the bat as well as he smashed 26 runs from just 14 balls (including four 4s and one maximum) before being caught at mid-wicket by Australian legend Matthew Hayden. Christian (1-21) had already taken the wicket of Brad Hodge for just one.

Nevertheless, the Renegades couldn’t hold their nerve as a succession of cheap wicket in the middle stages of the innings meant they fell short by 12 runs. Although Afridi’s three wickets take him onto nine in the competition so far his team are now left with only a mathematical chance of making the knock-out-stages.

Elsewhere, Simon Katich wasn’t required to bat or bowl as his Perth Scorchers side recorded a convincing nine-wicket win over Sydney Thunder on Wednesday. He did, however take a good catch at long on off highly-rated all-rounder, Tim Armstrong. The result leaves his side top of the table going into the final round of matches.

Words: Ryan Day
Images: LMI Photography

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