Kieron Pollard, Saif Badar and Shoib Malik. There is another thing in common between these three right-handers apart from the fact that they all represent Multan Sultans in the third edition of Pakistan Super League – they were all cleaned up by Shahid Afirdi on Saturday night.
Afiridi, who has not been far from making headlines with his all-round skills in the PSL, produced three tremendous deliveries to break the middle order of Multan’s batting line-up. While all three had elements to fox the batsman, his loopy leg-spinner to Pollard was by far the best delivery he has bowled in the entire season.
Known to outdo the batsmen with his fast and flat flippers, Afirdi bamboozled Pollard with a perfectly flighted leg spinner that gripped, turned and hit the top of Pollard’s off stump, leaving a big question mark on his face.
Benefit of doubt must be given to Pollard for not putting a big stride forward as not many would would expect Afridi to turn his leg spinners a mile.
Aftar picking up Pollard, Afridi sent back youngster Saif Badar after he had hit him for huge six over long-off. In the very next over, Shoaib Malik lost his off stump to a similar delivery like Badar, that beat him for pace.
The former Pakistan captain picked up 3 for 18 in his four-over spell and was also adjudged Man of the Match as it was his performance that helped Karachi skittle out Multan for 125, to take the top spot with a 63-run win.
Earlier, Joe Danly (78 off 55) and Babar Azam’s (58 off 39) blistering half-centuries enabled Karchi to post a formidable 188 for 3 batting first.