Afridi was declared Man of the match for his splendind performance. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
West Indies, chasing 225 to win, were bowled out for 98 with nine overs remaining.
Shahid Afridi was declared as Man of the Match for his magnificent performance. Afridi took seven wickets for just twelve runs, and scored 76 off 55 balls.
Earlier Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq rescued Pakistan from a perilous position as they reached 224 for nine against the West Indies in the first one-day international at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday.
Returning to the team after being omitted from the Champions Trophy in England in June, the mercurial Afridi smashed a top score of 76 off 55 deliveries while Misbah redefined the role of the cautious captain, occupying 121 balls for his watchful innings of 52.
The pair put on 120 for the sixth wicket, a new record in one-day internationals for the ground and the best for Pakistan against the West Indies.
Their effort was essential after Jason Holder wrecked Pakistan's top-order batting in finishing with the outstanding figures of four for 13 off 10 overs.
The beanpole pacer, in just his fourth one-dayer, proved almost unplayable in overcast, seamer-friendly conditions with an exhibition of pace and accuracy that belied his relative inexperience.
Holder wasted little time in getting among the wickets after light morning delayed the start by 15 minutes.
Ahmed Shehzad played-on in the Barbadian's second over while the experienced Mohammad Hafeez was a prized scalp, his off-stump sent cartwheeling when he opted not to offer a shot.
Holder was then fortunate to have an lbw appeal against the other opener, Nasir Jamshed, upheld and then removed Asad Shafiq first ball to a brilliant catch by wicketkeeper Johnson Charles.
He should have claimed a fifth wicket but what looked like an obvious edge to Charles off Umar Akmal was ruled not out by umpire Joel Wilson, the same official who ruled Jamshed leg-before.
Afridi wasted no time setting about the bowling, hoisting six fours and five sixes in a typically entertaining innings while at the other end, Misbah was content to support the rampant all-rounder by feeding him the strike at every opportunity.
Afridi eventually fell to a catch at deep midwicket off Kieron Pollard in the 39th over.
West Indies did not help their cause with a repetition of the bowling indiscretions which surfaced during the Tri-Nations series last week where visiting India and Sri Lanka beat them to the final.
They delivered some 23 wides and gifted a total of 28 extras to the Pakistani total. Given the potential potency of the Pakistani bowling attack, it may prove to be a carelessness they could ill afford.
The second match of the five-game series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday.
Correction: In an earlier version of this article, Misbah's final score was mentioned as 42 instead of 52. The error has been fixed.
COMMENTS (59)
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Good timing by Afridi, now everyone will go and see that movie with his name. Although he single handedly defeated WI yesterday but I hope he keeps on delivering at even 50% of what he did in this match. History dictates that he will get out cheaply for the next 10-12 games and also not do much with the ball. I desperately hope that I am wrong.
@ABKhan you are so absolutely right!!!
Day after. After the hangover a good look at team performance shows again shows poor batting except afridi and Misbah. a team psychologist needs to evaluate each player Constant fear of rejection may be forcing the players to unnatural batting behavior leading to these tesults reverse swing was perfected by pakistan bowlers. Different pitches at home in some cities should be considered.
@Water Bottle: i think it was chaminda vaas maybe?
Good alround performance done by boom booM Afridi
@Truth: "Pakistan team cannot win matches unless the match is fixed. "
Really??? Its Pakistan Cricket team not IPL !!!!
So Pakistani cricket................soooo unpredictable.............not impressed.
@Fudge: 1) Afridi is fifth on all time list of players with maximum number of man of the match awards...i.e. 30 Man of the match awards...!!! that means he at least won 30 matches on his own and add to those at least 200 more in which he performed with bat of ball ... 2) He has hit 313 sixes...the most ever 3) He has highest batting strike rate among player with more than 50 ODIs....i.e. 114.75 4) He is third on all time list of bowlers to take 5 wickets in inning most of the time...i.e. 9 times 5) he has 7277 runs,6 centuries 35 50s, 114 catches, 350 wickets.... 6) analysis of his record shows that he scores more than 30 runs every third match this is on par with all regular batsmen of modern era...( you may check this on cricket stat sites) what else do you want.....??? I think bring stars from sky....maybe...???? remember we need all rounders in ODI and he provides best choice...
The result is written all over,, FIXED, FIXED, FIXED,, Pakistan team cannot win matches unless the match is fixed. Even a small kid can make out that the match is FIXED.
Keeping in view existing fragile status of our team, his presence at least can keep dying hopes alive!!
Now Afridi has secured his position in the team for the next 5 years!!!!!!
Lala what a comeback. love the spirit.
Correction in the article Misbah Scored 52 runs
There is type in this article; Misbah didn't score 42, he scored 52 instead.
Well done Afridi. This was necessary for your future.
BOOOM BOOOM, I think it was the ever best all round performance in Odi's, Thank you Afridi and Afridi Haters, Lol i can't even Imagine the pain you are going trough at the moment!
@waseem sarwar: Are u new to cricket...coz ones who follow cricket honestly, would laugh at you....
@antanu: by your logic, anybody who criticizes Afridi should be stripped of his Pakistani nationality. Wow!
@antanu: Why are you so sure I am non-Pakistani just because I criticized one of my own! Its my right to criticize and express my opinion. Afridi was my hero, he hasn't performed in a long time, only performs once in a blue moon, that doesn't make me and several other Pakistanis who criticize Afridi Indian (LOL). Please don't be a keyboard warrior, keep your judgement, and 'enemy' talk to yourself.
@Fudge: it appears that you want him to fail.If you are a Pakistani then it shows the reason why it is going downhill.and if you are not Pakistani (which I am sure of) please make it a habit to praise good petformances even from a perceived enemy. it will never make you small.
It was Afridi Vs WI and Afridi won. I have always advocated that Afridi should open for Pakistan. Congrats to all my Pakistani friends.
is it like 32nd comeback of Afridi !!!
@arjun: You are right about Dhoni but what exactly is Raina doing in your list? He isn't even in the league of average players and you want our players to be like him?
The comments above proves that we as a nation are very negative. We are just criticezing and predicting future rather than praise the good performance. Come on guys we have won the match and Afridi has given match winning performance enjoy the moment.
@Water Bottle: number two on all time list behind Chaminda Vaas (8-19 against Zimbabwe in 2001)
Good. Now Afridi has cemented his place till at least 2018. Just like he did with has fastest century the effect of which has lasted decades, this performance will do him good for another 5 years at least. Watch out for consistent non-performances to those who get too excited too easily.
Well done Lala. Keep it up. Candidly speaking you shut up the mouth of all anchors, PCB selectors and officials I mean all critics.
@A. Khan:
Afridi is still young. If he does even keep up half of this, he will retire as a legend and nothing less.
Congratulations team Pakistan. There are a few facts to consider: After dropping Afridi he had no option but to perform and perform he did. It only confirms the fact that every player needs some time off no matter what their past is. All the top performers are 30 plus in the current team. Where is the team building and future? Afridi is still good as a player under a good educated captain and only if he keeps his mouth shut. He certainly is not management material.
Moral of the story 1)This inning will give Afridi licence for next series without performing further in this series
2)This inning will help producer of "Mein hoon Afridi" to boost revenue
@A. Khan: how many players are over the hill Mr. A Khan? Players are never over the hill otherwise Refills would not been playing for India. And I see some eyewitness in your comment... why don't you write your real name and no question will be asked.
congrats
7 wickets for 12 runs seems like the best bowling figure ever.
Or is there someone who has bettered it?
Afridi is like Sehwag and Gayle, perform or perish. To get one performance like this one, they need atleast 20 chances. Doesn't do good to the team. Every team needs professional performers like Dhoni and Raina. They hit target 9 out of 10 times.
I certainly hope he can keep up this performance. Certainly its not a place cementer and then we have to go 20-30 matches before another "match winning" innings/bowling.
Ahem.. when do we start rebuilding the team as most of the players are ..er... over the hill, if you will ?
Afridi !!!! the one man army!
Well played Afridi, you have proven that old is gold.
Welcome back Lala!! What a comeback 76 and 7 for 12. We missed you in CT. a slap in the face for afridi haters!! Boom boom Zindabad!!
well played Afridi, but top order should change their tactics.
@ExpressTribune, Misbah-ul-Haq scored 52 runs off 121 balls, NOT 42. Please correct.
no comment yet.....come on guys.....Las your tounges at afridi....
@ET: "Misbah redefined the role of the cautious captain, occupying 121 balls for his watchful innings of 42." Its 52, not 42, please correct.
@ET: "Misbah redefined the role of the cautious captain, occupying 121 balls for his watchful innings of 42." Its 52, not 42, please correct.
it's quite deserted comment box....perhaps Afridi haters are scurrying for covers.anyway it's agriculture all the ways. a bad season and he was mocked but came back with one of the greatest ODI bowling performance ever. and batting was a bonus... he is the man.watch out windies.
Lala back with the BANG........
How miserable is our situation one day we want to bury whole cricket team next day we celebrate the performance of that team.We are human! Congratulation.
Afridi, you beauty. Now just need to keep this going.
Welcome back Sir
Great performance by Lala jee.....we love u
It was not Pakistan, but Afridi Vs West Indies, now I am wondering when PCB is going to drop him again after his magnificent performance as PCB normally drop players after they perform well. I am thinking how PCB is going to survive without Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat
They say "form is temporary but class is permanent.." Afridi shows again that he is a class act and can bounce back anytime... A true legend.... Just like we miss Wasim, Waqar...we will surely miss him when he hangs up his boots..... till then enjoy while it is there..... Boom Boom......
AMAZING performance by Afridi. Simply one of the all-time great performances in an ODI. Well done. Now let's hope for some consistency.
Boom boom back with a bang!!!
Congratulation to Pak team Outstanding performace by Afridi. Excellent Pace attack paved the way Pakistan, may have found pace bowler in Irfan. Keep it up.
Guys!!!! LALA is back.
All that I am not one of those Afridi-lovers but I have to concede that this was one of the greatest individual, all-round performance in modern cricket history. Way to go Afridi.