Afridi’s last-ball blitz steals victory for Desert Vipers
- Shaheen Afridi saves the day for Desert Vipers with last-ball win over MI Emirates.
- Mohammad Amir’s bowling brilliance restricts MI Emirates to 149 runs.
- Desert Vipers struggle early, but Afridi and Rutherford turn the tide.
In an intense match at the ongoing ILt20 2024, Pakistan’s T20 captain, Shaheen Afridi, demonstrated an exceptional performance, steering Desert Vipers to a thrilling last-ball win against Mumbai Indians Emirates.
Choosing to bat first, MI Emirates encountered a significant hurdle as they faltered to 111 runs for six wickets by the 16th over.
Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, became the pivotal player with a forceful performance, taking out key players like Kusal Perera, Tim David, and Trent Boult.
Amir’s remarkable four-over spell limited MI Emirates to 149 runs, taking three wickets with an economy rate of 6.50.
In retaliation, Desert Vipers experienced early difficulties and found themselves at a challenging 82 runs with six wickets down within the 12th over. However, the pair of Sherfane Rutherford and captain Shaheen Afridi shifted the momentum in favor of Desert Vipers.
With the team requiring 10 runs in the last over and three runs from the final ball, the pressure mounted. Facing the decisive final ball from Trent Boult, Shaheen adeptly directed the ball towards the boundary, taking advantage of the lack of fielders at the boundary.
Afridi’s rapid decision-making and a swift run culminated in a dramatic victory for Desert Vipers, winning the match by two wickets.
𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 & 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 & 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑!
How brilliant was that finish in #DVvMIE? 🤯😍#KoiKasarNahiChhodenge | #DPWorldILT20onZee pic.twitter.com/YA7Csqiypa
— Zee Cricket (@ilt20onzee) January 30, 2024
The 23-year-old made a significant contribution to the team’s victory, scoring a brisk 17 runs off 12 balls, including a vital boundary, at an impressive strike rate of 141.67.
