On 2 August 2023, Manchester Originals took on Welsh Fire in the second match of the ongoing The Hundred Men’s competition in Cardiff. However, the ace Pakistan pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi was in action for the first time for the Welsh side. Recently, he was in Sri Lanka for the two-match Test series for Pakistan.
In those matches, he took six wickets as Babar Azam and his men won both matches convincingly. So, fans were hoping for a great debut for Afridi and he did not disappoint his fans. With the first two deliveries, he took two wickets and set the tone for his team. A video also went viral and fans shared their views on social media.
Here is the shared video:
The Eagle Shaheen Afridi with the new ball.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 2, 2023
What a bowler....!!!!pic.twitter.com/0kcdn9l1LO
Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets for 24 runs in 10 balls
Speaking of the match, the Manchester skipper, Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bowl first. Due to rain, the match got reduced to 40 balls from 100 balls. While batting first, Welsh Fire scored 94 runs for three wickets. Luke Wells scored 57 runs off 23 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. For the Manchester side, Josh Little took two wickets and Tom Hartley took one wicket. In reply, Manchester scored just 85 runs for four wickets after 40 balls and the Welsh side won the match by just nine runs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and David Willey both grabbed two wickets each with the ball. Jos Buttler remained not out on 37* runs while Max Holden also scored 37 runs off 18 balls. But, it was not enough for them to recover from the early setbacks that Afridi provided. Luke Wells won the Player of the Match award. However, it was Welsh Fire’s first win since 2021. In the last edition, they lost all of their eight matches. In their last 15 games, it was their only second win.
Here is how fans have reacted:
🇵🇰❤
— Wali Rehman (@walirehman903) August 3, 2023
They can not play him!
— M (@anngrypakiistan) August 2, 2023
Vadapav shivering 😢
— KT (@IconicRcb) August 2, 2023
This guy is gonna be dangerous come this world cup
— GoldenEyeZA (@GoldenEyeZA) August 2, 2023
Over hyped.
— Adesh Ajju (@AjjuAdesh) August 2, 2023
Doesn't even come close to the likes to Starc and Boult Imho 👍🏻
Rahul and Rohit shivering 🥶
— Reyhan (@desi_boiiiiii) August 2, 2023
The nightmare of openers in every format of the game
— U M A R (@Agrumpycomedian) August 2, 2023
New ball par he has that extra zip. May he keeps moving forward.
— Mustafa Masood Qureshi (@mustafamasood23) August 2, 2023