Published: Feb 24, 2018, 06:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 24, 2018, 06:51 PM (IST)
Shahid Afridi is an enigma. Splendid, frustrating and a crowd puller, Afridi is the mascot that global T20 tournaments need. He lit up the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a sensational catch at Dubai and what followed were maddening scenes.
The Imad Wasim-led Karachi Kings posted 149 with Afridi contributing just four. Quetta Gladiators were struggling at 70 for 5 in the 13th over but Umar Amin was looking dangerous in the middle. He tried to hoist Mohammad Irfan (the right-arm medium pacer) over long-on for a six before Afridi played the foil. Amin lofted the ball through the line, Afridi ran back from long-on, anticipated well, timed his jump well to pluck it with his right hand. Realising that his momentum will take him over the boundary ropes, he lobs it in the air, goes out, comes in and completes the stunner.
[link-to-post url=”https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/psl-2018-karachi-kings-edge-past-quetta-gladiators-by-19-runs-688098″][/link-to-post]
It’s followed by the typical Afridi celebrations with arms out in the air as crowd go berserk. His teammates run towards him to be a part of the 37-year-old cricketer’s celebrations.
Watch it with the commentary to double the excitement.
Shahid Afridi is truly an ageless cricketer. 21 years after his debut he is still finding ways to entertain the crowd. The catch by him today, without exaggeration, is the greatest effort by a Pakistani fielder on the boundary. He’s the real Karachi King! pic.twitter.com/JRBHPIZvMA
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 23, 2018
The Gladiators lost the game by 19 runs and Afridi was brilliant with the ball, registering figures of 4-0-23-1. He got the key wicket of the opposition skipper Sarfraz Ahmed.
