Sohaib Maqsood of Pakistan plays a shot during their first T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka in Dubai, on December 11, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39, hitting the winning six off the first ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs.
Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run second wicket stand before they lost three wickets in the space of seven runs.
Sharjeel holed out after hitting three fours off 31 balls while Hafeez, who hit two fours and a six in his 27-ball knock, fell leg-before and Umar Akmal was run out for five.
It was left to Afridi to see Pakistan through.
Criticised for his recent poor batting form, Afridi hit two towering sixes in Kulasekara's 16th over to give Pakistan a sniff of victory.
When on 23, Afridi also became the first player to score 1,000 runs and take 50 wickets in all Twenty20 cricket. In all he has 73 wickets in 69 matches.
Sent into bat, Sri Lankan batsmen did not capitalise on the good starts before Mathews (50) and Lahiru Thirimanne (23 not out) added 58 for the fifth wicket stand to take their team to 145-5 in 20 overs.
Mathews hit five boundaries and a six off 34 balls before holing out in the last over. He hit paceman Bilawal Bhatti for three boundaries in one over before sending left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir to long-on ropes to reach his fifty off 32 balls.
Experienced opener Tillakaratne Dilshan managed just seven before he was the first wicket to fall in the second over.
Kusal Perera (15) and skipper Dinesh Chandimal (22) then added 32 for the second wicket but off-spinner Saeed Ajmal put on the initial brakes with 2-35.
Kumar Sangakkara scored 21.
Pakistan gave an international debut to 19-year-old Usman Shinwari after the left-arm paceman was drafted into the team as late as on Tuesday but the youngster from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bowled only one over, costing nine runs.
Tanvir finished with 2-32 while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took 1-20 in his four overs.
The second match will also be played in Dubai on Friday. The two teams also play five one-day internationals and three Tests.
If critics would instil confidence in the boys instead of undernining them always, they would play and win, win, win. Three cheers for Pak!
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) December 11, 2013
Correction: Earlier version of the story wrongly stated that Afridi hit the winning off the last ball of the final over.
COMMENTS (22)
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@Effy: I second it, Usman Shinwari should have been given the full quota of four overs to give him confidence and to have a good look at his bowling. Hafeez is playing politics here, he has now turned into a full time politician after the South Africa debacle for him. Many spectators at home were excited about this young prospect and waited to watch him but in vain.
Promising and extra talented Usman Shinwari have been made an escape goat and been given only one over..what a shameful act from Hafeez. This was an deliberate attempt to demoralize him. Just one over cannot measure a youngster talent and the two wides he bowled cannot be the reason for not bowling him any further...politics in its worst form from Hafeez. He should have been given the full quota of four overs to measure him and give him confidence, now he might be dejected and cursing himself. This is just not the way new young talent is groomed and polished...it reflects very poorly on the selectors as well as he was not picked for one day team as well. Worst kind of nepotism to be seen.
What a day Pak won , Ajmal completed his 400 wickets , Afridi set a new record of 1000 runs + 50plus wickets in T20 and India got whitewashed
why did Hafeez use Usman for one over, worst captaincy ever, why did he demoralise the youngster ? Hafeez doesnt deserve to be in the team, he is not fit to captain a club side forget the national side and why is Umar Amin given so many chances, why not Harris Sohial ?
"but the youngster from the troubled Kahyber Pakhtunkhwa province bowled only one over, costing nine runs." - This is called reporting?? Where is Kayhber Pakhtunkhwa? And troubled "Kayhber"? All of Pakistan is "troubled"! Why not just write the team from "troubled" Pakistan beat Sri Lanka! Publish this you sold ET!
@Ch. Allah Daad: Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live! Bob Marley
No news of Indian beating behind the South African buhes ET! Why? Why? Why?
@Fawad: What about the captain's performance, Muhammad Hafeez??? You very conveniently forgot him. Salams
It was a very competitively played game and fast moving from the onset. Shahid Afridi played a masterful innings and lived up to his name of 'hit out or get out.' This time he succeeded. For the real national team to emerge and succeed.......all the provinces need representation. Congratulations and Salams
Well Done TEAM GREEN. Stuff of champs. Haters hope you find some place to hide your face.
It was really a good show by team Pakistan. Afridi hits 03 sixes and 02 fours in his innings but even then he was 39 off just 20 balls. It is proved that if Afridi tries to bat sensibly, he is simply a gem for team Pakistan. Good performance Paki boys! keep it up!
Why the disparaging reference to the "troubled Pakhtunkhwa Province". What does Usman have to carry that burden too? What relevance does it have to the match?
Afridi performs every tenth match. Sri Lankans forgot counting.
to criticize Afridi,, you don't have to be analytical, you have to be courageous
It was FIRST Ball of final over and NOT last ball. Please make correction ET!
Osman Shinwari is not from "the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province." He is from Landikotal, which is in FATA.
This was good to see from team pakistan, winning a match while chasing; but loss of successive wickets is a problem which perisists. Afridi showed that if he plays with some restraint he can can finish games off with relative ease. Bowling was alright, tanvir and Ajmal a bit expensive, but they got wickets. AND It has to be said that usman shinwari was managed terribly on debut, ok so he had one bad over, but deserved at least another over.
Disappointment for rational ''AFridi Haters", who want to see him out of team.
Congratulations Pakistan on a great win. It was an evenly balanced game at the end of Sri Lankan innings but Pakistan played well with a good second wicket stand to build on. Boom Boom Afridi was in his elements and played a match winning inning. Go Pakistan and will the next one too!
Abdul Quddus DET- United States Central Command
Afridi and Sharjeel job welldone. Afridi has done a tremendous job.