Shahid Afridi - The Old Butcher - took the game away from the Australian XI tonight in the blinking of an eye and shook the WACA to its foundations.
Afridi came to the crease when Yousuf Youhana's dismissal left the tourists at 6/170 after 36.4 overs, needing 95 off 80 for victory. When he was dismissed with the fifth ball of the 41st over, Pakistan was 7 for 223, needing 43 off 49.
Afridi scored 30 off 13 - hitting two sixes and three fours.
Abdul Razzaq and Rana guided Pakistan to victory from there.
The Old Butcher has averaged over 30 at a strike rate of about 180 this series. He puts the Windies on the chopping block on Tuesday.
The Shahid Afridi fan club will be present. Keep an eye out for our banner and drums.
Giovanni says:
In other news, Mathew Hayden made 6 off 16 on a batsmen's paradise.
We can now safely assume he will be rewarded with the Australian captaincy for at least the duration of the finals.
(where is JL?)
KL says:
Hayden must go.
And here is Billy Bowden working on a new signal:
[img]http://img14.exs.cx/img14/1569/napdyna.gif[/img]
Barney says:
I reckon they'll send the bouncer (Milosovic?) that knocked off Hooksie 'round to break young Afridi's kneecaps before he can play in this finals series…
JL in for Haydos - play him at 4 and push Damo to 5, with Clarkie and Gilly opening for some early firing power off the quicks.
Kasper in for Lee (love the boy's spunk but he's more expensive than Bec Cartright's engagement ring from Ley-Ley).
Lehmann in for Symonds - clearly needs to find form at State level despite that 'fro being the best thing in Aussie cricket since Merv's mo.
Go Aussie.
Giovanni says:
Yesterday Alex, Golnar, Chikako and myself got on television and were discussed on 720 am with our 4m x 1m banner at the cricket. It read "Sahibzaha Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi Fan Club (Est. 2004)". Afridi didn't let us down, hitting 23 off 9 balls, including 2 massive sixes and a four as he, Yousuf Youhana (105) and Inzamam (74) took Pakistan to a whopping 307 - enough to secure a 30 run victory.
By the end of the day, the S.M.S.K. Afridi Fan Club had ten official members.
The best thing, though, was Rana's choice of song to be played as he came on to bowl or out to bat - Push Up, by Freestylers… "baby shake that ass".
Also, Perth folk, this Friday at the Funk Club there's a Tsunami reconstruction benefit gig. Come on down!
GT
Giovanni says:
Aussies should field:
Clarkie (5 overs)
Gilly
Punter
JL
Marto (5 overs)
Mike Hussey (a reasonable bowler)
Brad Hodge (vic)
Tonguemeister
Dizzy
Kaspa
McGarth
The way Rana, Razzaq and Afridi have been bowling they'll need the batting depth. Hmm… maybe an all rounder instead of Hodge…
Giovanni says:
Pakistan should field -
Yasir Hamid
Salman Butt
Yousuf Youhana
Inzamam
Shahid Afridi
Abdul Razzaq
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Azar Mahmood
Rana
Mohammad Khalil
The openers are a bit of a worry but both of them have shown they have the chops, they just need to deliver. Even if Salman and Yasir Hamid fail, this Pakistan XI bats down to Rana at 10, with an average of 17 and a strike rate of 73/74. Mahmood, Razzaq, Rana, Khalil and Afridi make for a fair attack.
Giovanni says:
Symmonds proved me wrong for one night, but one good innings out of eight should not be enough…
Good to see the Old Butcher go down fighting.
huma says:
we r fine hru??my bhai like u most
huma says:
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