Pakistan pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, showcased their brilliance, overshadowing Shadab Khan’s team as Welsh Fire secured a convincing victory against Birmingham Phoenix on Thursday at The Hundred Men’s Competition 2023.
Opting to bat first, Phoenix struggled to find their footing and suffered a significant setback, losing five crucial wickets while managing to accumulate just 103 runs from 86 deliveries.
Shadab Khan, who was a key player for his team, succumbed to the adept bowling of his compatriot and fellow teammate from Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi. Disappointingly, Shadab’s innings concluded after a mere contribution of 2 runs.
Haris emerged as a standout performer during the first innings as he claimed the prized wickets of Jamie Smith (11) and Liam Livingstone (28), who struggled to contend with a masterful slower ball.
Birmingham found themselves at a precarious score of 112 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings
Haris Rauf’s spellbinding figures spoke volumes of his contribution, as he secured two wickets while conceding just 20 runs from his allotted 20 deliveries, boasting an impressive 1.00 RPB (Runs Per Ball). Joining forces with him, Shaheen also left a mark, clinching one wicket and conceding 26 runs from his 20 deliveries, maintaining with an impressive 1.30 RPB (Runs Per Ball).
During the chase, Welsh Fire showcased impressive composure as they effortlessly achieved the target. The team successfully scored 116 runs, with only four wickets falling, with 15 deliveries remaining in the final innings.
Shadab’s performance with the ball was commendable, taking one wicket while conceding 16 runs in 15 deliveries, maintaining a bowling rate of 1.06 RPB. Despite his efforts, his team fell short and ended up losing the match.
