Dubai: Seventeen-year-old left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, whom India’s legendary batsman Rahul Dravid, coach of the India’s Under-19 team, picked for special praise during the recent ICC Under-19 World Cup, displayed his destructive skills to lift Lahore Qalandars to their first victory after six successive defeats at the Dubai International Stadium.
Afridi’s spell of five wickets for just four runs from his 3.4 overs, which included a maiden over, was the most economical spell ever in the history of the Pakistan Super League. He bowled out table toppers Multan Sultans for a paltry 114 in 19.4 overs.
After Multan got off to a great start through opener Kumar Sangakkara’s 45 and Ahmad Shahzad’s 32 runs and their 61-run partnership, they lost nine wickets for just 22 runs. Afridi generated tremendous pace and bowled sizzling yorkers during his spell.
Lahore captain Brendon McCullum, who had offered to step down following his team’s successive defeats, stood like a rock and steered his team to victory with eight balls to spare through an unbeaten run-a-ball 35 runs. He put on 53 runs from 11 overs with wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf (27) for the fourth wicket.
McCullum finally omitted off-form Denesh Ramdin and included Afridi and Mitchell McClenaghan in the team and those changes had its effect. McCullum lost the toss and Multan promptly elected to bat. They got off to a quick start with Sangakkara once again batting as if he had never retired from international cricket.
He scored 45 out of the 61 runs opening partnership with Ahmad Shehzad before hitting in the air to Anton Devich at extra cover off Sunil Narine.
McCullum dropped next man Shoaib Maqsood on two off Yasir Shah at slip. Shehzad and Maqsood accelerated the run rate and by the half way mark were 73 for one.
The pair put on 31 runs for the second wicket when McClenaghan had Shehzad caught behind by new wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf while attempting a scoop to fine leg for 32.
Narine went on to pick the wicket of Maqsood. who tried to flick and missed the delivery to be bowled for 16.
Skipper Shoaib Malek lasted only 10 balls to score three runs before pulling Afridi to Sohail Akhtar at midwicket. Afridi struck with his next delivery to clean bowl Ross Whiteley. Though Saif Badar prevented Afridi from recording a hat-trick, he fell to the next ball getting a thick edge while attempting to flick and Agha Salman at covers taking an easy catch. Three wickets in four balls by Afridi pushed Multan to 99 for six. Sohail Tanvir too got run out in a terrible mix up. Sohail Khan bowled Kieron Pollard for 9 while Afridi struck again in the last over to pick two more wickets.
Chasing the score, Devich gave a quick start hitting five boundaries in his 22 runs but Malek had him caught behind by wicketkeeper Sangakkara while going for a cut. Imran Tahir picked the prized wicket of Fakhar Zaman who skied a slog sweep to Pollard for 16. When Mohammad Irfan had Agha Salman too caught behind for three, Lahore began to struggle.
When McCullum was on nine, Saif Badar at deep midwicket dropped him off Sohail Tanvir. McCullum escaped on 10 too again dropped by Badar at sweeper cover off Junaid Khan.
Brief scores:
Lahore Qalandars bt Multan Sultans by six wickets. Multan Sultans 114 in 19.4 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 45, Ahmad Shahzad 32, Shaheen Afridi 5 for 4, Sunil Narine 2 for 16) Lahore Qalandars 115 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Brendon McCullum 35n.o, Anton Devcich 22, Gulraiz Sadaf 27).
