Afridi's luck
Plays of the day from the Kanpur one-day international
Rahul Bhatia in Kanpur
15-Apr-2005
The eleventh over. Shahid Afridi had smacked a six over long-on, a
four over short fine leg and another six down the ground. He was now on
85 at a strike-rate of well over 200. Then Dinesh Mongia looped it up
and Afridi swept it right into the hands of the man at short fine leg.
As the crowd went up, the fielders collapsed. It was a no-ball.
Two-over carnage
On a difficult track, Shahid Afridi negated the conditions and burst free with a barrage of sixes that were nothing short of stunning. The first came off Lakshmipathy Balaji, as Afridi simply carved it over square leg. The next one was hoicked over long-on, and caught by a ball-boy behind the ropes. Anil Kumble then sent down a waist-high full toss, which was duly clubbed over square leg. Next, Afridi swept one powerfully over midwicket, and later in the same tonked one over wide long-on. He had singlehandedly culled 21 off the third over and 23 off the fifth. Pakistan were 55 for no loss in five overs, with the 50 coming in a mere 21 minutes.
On a difficult track, Shahid Afridi negated the conditions and burst free with a barrage of sixes that were nothing short of stunning. The first came off Lakshmipathy Balaji, as Afridi simply carved it over square leg. The next one was hoicked over long-on, and caught by a ball-boy behind the ropes. Anil Kumble then sent down a waist-high full toss, which was duly clubbed over square leg. Next, Afridi swept one powerfully over midwicket, and later in the same tonked one over wide long-on. He had singlehandedly culled 21 off the third over and 23 off the fifth. Pakistan were 55 for no loss in five overs, with the 50 coming in a mere 21 minutes.
Rahul Bhatia is on the staff of Cricinfo.