Twitter Reactions: Shahid Afridi’s three-for helps Comilla Victorians to victory

The Victorians had their troubles during the run-chase.

Published - 11 Jan 2019, 22:05 IST | Updated - 11 Jan 2019, 22:05 IST

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Comilla Victorians were dealt with a body blow as Steve Smith missed today’s contest due to an elbow injury. Imrul Kayes captained the team in the match against Rajshahi Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). However, Smith’s omission didn’t affect them as they won by five wickets. The Victorians also won with eight balls to spare which meant that their Net Run Rate improved from -1.217 to -0.594.

Afridi strangles the Kings

The decision to bowl first paid dividends for the Victorians as they bowled Rajshahi out for 124 in the 19th over. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz promoted himself to open the batting and churned out 30 runs from 17 balls with the help of six boundaries. Mominul Haque and Soumya Sarkar fell prey to speedster Mohammad Saifuddin. Liam Dawson, who replaced Smith, got the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez.

In the eighth over, Shahid Afridi came into the attack and picked up Mehidy and Laurie Evans in his first two balls. The Kings lost wickets in clumps and were reduced to 63 for seven. Zakir Hasan and Isuru Udana scored 27 and 32 respectively to ensure that the Kings put up a respectable score on the board. While, Afridi got three wickets, Abu Hider Rony, Saifuddin and Dawson accounted for two batsmen each.

Too easy for the Victorians

Anamul Haque and Evin Lewis took the attacking route and cobbled together a partnership of 65 runs from 43 balls to put Comilla Victorians in the driver’s seat. Qais Ahmed, the Afghan leg-spinner, dismissed Lewis after the Windies batsman scored 28 runs from 21 balls with three fours and a six. At that point in time, the Victorians needed 60 runs off 77 deliveries. Tamim Iqbal demoted himself to bat at number three.

The left-hander tried to take on Mehidy Hasan but gave his wicket away after scoring 21 from 25 balls. Anamul was unluckily run-out as a drive from Tamim deflected off Udana’s hands into the stumps. The bowlers picked up Kayes and Shoaib Malik cheaply to keep the Kings in the hunt. In the end, Dawson spanked Udana for two fours to take Rajshahi within touching distance and win them the encounter.

Here is how Twitter reacted

Shahid afridi is the best T20 Player ever
— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) January 11, 2019

Shahid Afridi with ball:
Overs :4
Runs: 10
Maiden:1
Wickets:3
E.R : 2.25
*#BPL2019* https://t.co/bf7BEwMfCX
— Cricky Updates (@CrickyUpdates) January 11, 2019

First 2 matches
39* on 25 balls & 25 on 18
balls
3rd match 4-1-10-3 brilliant#ShahidAfridi continues
performing brilliantly with
both bat and ball in#BPL2019
— Abdul Razaq (@Abdul_Razaq_12) January 11, 2019

#T20s Most wickets taken bowled
Malinga-143
Shahid Afridi-90
Most wickets taken LBW
Imran Tahir-45
Shahid Afridi-44
Most maiden bowled by Pakistani bowler
Shahid Afridi-16
Take a bow 🙇 @SAfridiOfficial
#Legend #BoomBoom #lala_zindabad pic.twitter.com/CHDQFhoA6q
— Maya (@mayaali_10) January 11, 2019

Shahid Afridi (Absolute Legend) 🙌🐐❤😍😘
— Zubair AFRIDI 🇵🇰 (@SAfridi_LoveR10) January 11, 2019

What a champion
Shahid Afridi picked two
wickets on 2 balls#BPL2019
— Abdul Razaq (@Abdul_Razaq_12) January 11, 2019

Shahid Afridi You beauty❤❤💥#BPL2019 @SAfridiOfficial
— Aroosa○/Afridian❤ (@aroosa_farid10) January 11, 2019

Shahid Afridi took 3 wickets in 7 balls !! #BPL2019
Lala on Fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Mubarak ho LaLa @SAfridiOfficial pic.twitter.com/4DYaentrrC
— Maya (@mayaali_10) January 11, 2019