Shaheen Shah Afridi was the hero of the thrilling final five-match Twenty20 International series between Pakistan and New Zealand, leaving his mark on cricket history with an incredible performance. In addition to guaranteeing Pakistan’s triumph, Afridi’s unmatched exhibition of bowling prowess adds a huge accomplishment to his career.
There was pressure on both teams to produce an exciting series finale with the series tied at 2-2. Pakistan, batting first, took full advantage of their opportunity, largely because of Babar Azam’s formidable presence at the wicket. With an impressive innings of 69 runs off 44 balls, Azam laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s formidable total of 178/5. In addition to Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan made substantial contributions, scoring vital runs to support.
Nevertheless, Afridi’s flash of genius took center stage. Afridi’s outstanding bowling abilities were on full show when he accomplished the incredible record of taking 50 wickets in his first over of T20I cricket, which had never been done before in the history of the game. His performance in the match, which included four wickets, demonstrated his worth to the Pakistani team and cemented his standing as one of the best pacers in the business.
Tim Seifert’s heroic half-century spearheaded New Zealand’s brave effort, but the Black Caps were unable to match Pakistan’s score. Usama Mir’s exceptional 2/21 bowling stats were essential in preventing New Zealand’s batting order and giving Pakistan a vital nine-run victory.
