WATCH: Shaheen Afridi's Perfect First Over To Shai Hope

Pakistan defeated West Indies by 120 runs in the 2nd ODI as they defended a 276-run target.

Cricket Image for WATCH: Shaheen Afridi's Perfect First Over To Shai Hope (Image Source: Twitter)

By Sahil Mathur
Jun 11, 2022 • 05:47 PM

The rise of Shaheen Afridi is one of the most exciting things to happen in world cricket recently. Afridi's ability to make the ball talk with his lethal pace, swing, seam, and accuracy makes him one of the toughest to face at the start of the inning.

By Sahil Mathur
June 11, 2022 • 05:47 PM

Statistically, the first over gets the most swing with the new ball and Afridi always bowls with the new ball to get the most out of it. With the opening batter trying to get set, Afridi is the last bowler you would want to face.

During Pakistan vs West Indies' 2nd ODI, Afridi as expected took the new ball with the hosts trying to defend a par total of 276. Shai Hope has been in brilliant form lately and him being at the crease would have always kept Pakistan under the pump.

In the first over, Afridi kept looking for the in-swing into the right-hander Shai Hope. The first ball was an almost yorker-length delivery, the second too was on yorker length, the third ball was a bit on the leg and Hope flicked it for four. The fourth ball was back of the length and the fifth one was fuller getting a bit of inswing.

After bowling five balls trying to get inswing and looking for LBW or bowled dismissals, Afridi gave a bait delivery to Hope, who too had a tough time in those five deliveries. It was a length ball wide of the off-stump and Hope took the bait to drive it past the covers.

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However, the fielder was set exactly for such type of shot and took an easy catch at the catching covers and Hope departed early as Afridi finished yet another perfect first over with the new ball.