Image courtesy of: The Express Tribune
Afridi’s seven wickets for 12 runs is now his new personal best bowling figures in ODIs
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi backed up his statement about himself being “better” than many of the other international players in the game after he scored 76 runs and took seven wickets against the West Indies in a fairytale-like ODI return.
West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo won the toss and chose to bowl first in overhead conditions.
Bravo’s decision seemed to be the right one towards the beginning of the Pakistan innings as 21-year-old pace bowler Jason Holder absolutely tore through the Pakistan batting line-up, taking four quick wickets to leave the scoreboard reading 23/4.
Holder’s partner in crime, Kemar Roach, also got into the act, dismissing Umar Akmal for 19.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Afridi both stabilised the innings with sensible half-centuries and for the first time in the game, it seemed as if Pakistan were in the driver’s seat.
Afridi was the first to depart after scoring 76 runs from 55 balls, which included six boundaries and an unbelievable five sixes.
With the tail now exposed, ul-Haq decided to try and increase the scoring rate, but it only ended up with him getting out for 52.
Afridi and ul-Haq’s contributions had taken Pakistan to a final score of 224, which looked almost impossible towards the beginning of their innings.
Holder was the star of the West Indies bowling attack with four wickets, while Roach and Bravo both picked up two wickets apiece and Kieron Pollard chipped in with one.
Chasing a relatively straightforward target of 225 to win, the West Indies, just like Pakistan, faltered at the beginning of their innings, losing three quick wickets with only seven runs on the board.
Marlon Samuels showed some resistance, but this was soon put to an end as he was dismissed for 25 by Afridi.
Afridi’s reign of terror continued as he claimed victim after victim and almost as soon as anyone could blink, the West Indies tail had been exposed.
However, come tailender or top order batsman, Afridi was simply unplayable and made quick work of the last few batsmen to leave the West Indies all out for an embarrassing 98, which is their lowest score against Pakistan and their worst score against any team at home.
Afridi’s seven wickets for 12 runs was his new personal best bowling figures for ODIs, but he was well supported by Mohammad Irfan, who snapped up two wickets as well.
Bravo was stunned by the events that had unfolded, but nonetheless praised Afridi for a job well done.
“After a great bowling performance, Jason put us in a good position, but credit to Shahid Afridi,” Bravo said. “I thought 225 was gettable, but once again the batting crumbled under pressure. It is the lack of confidence. We have not been scoring runs. That plays its part. We really have to rally around each other and back ourselves and back our ability. There has been improvement. We didn’t finish badly with the ball. Disappointed for the fans too.”
Ul-Haq noted that the victory was “much-needed” after Pakistan’s dismal performance during the Champions Trophy.
“It was a much-needed performance,” ul-Haq said. “Especially the way Shahid Afridi played. It is one of the more difficult pitches I have played on. It was seaming, it was stopping, it was really difficult to middle the ball. I thought if we could reach 200, we could fight. And Shahid helped me. On a pitch that it was difficult to middle the balls Shahid was hitting fours and sixes. Jason Holder bowled well. The fielding was wonderful. Everybody was charged up. Every bowler bowled well.”
Afridi was the obvious choice when it came to the Man of the Match award, and he said: “I try hard and I back myself and I want to thank people back home. It is not time for me to just survive in the team, but to give a lot to the team. It was not easy to survive so I tried to stay positive. Whenever I got the ball in my zone I went for it. I knew Misbah was at the other end. I knew he would stay till the end, it gave me the confidence to go after it. Oh wow wow wow wow what a pitch it was for me to bowl. I just kept it simple, and it worked.”