Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad faced a lot of criticism for not playing up to his potential or not scoring at the desired strike rate. Shehzad silenced everyone in the Independence Cup 2017 final between Pakistan and World XI. He cleared Lahore’s, Gadaffi Stadium with ease and struck three back-to-back sixes. The 25-year-old struggled in the humid conditions of Lahore as he took breaks and hydrated himself between the overs. The Pakistani opener was saving the fireworks for the last as he took on Ben Cutting in the 18th over and also bettering his strike rate.
First six:
Shehzad was batting on 70 from 51 balls at the start of the 18th over. Pakistan needed to up the scoring rate in order to post a big total. Babar Azam took a single and brought Shehzad on strike. Cutting ran in and tried to bowl a yorker, missed it by an inch. Shehzad saw the opportunity and stuck the ball with raw power. He cleared his front leg out of the way and swung his bat. He got the elevation he needed and cleared the boundary with ease as the fielder saw it go over him. He had got the momentum by now and Cutting under pressure.
SIX! 17.2 Cutting to Ahmed Shehzad
Watch the match at https://t.co/ZWOxe07EbG#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/cuA7vmtNug— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 15, 2017
Second six:
On the second ball Shehzad had made his mind to go after Cutting. He shuffled to the offside and got him the elevation he needed once again. He targeted the midwicket boundary once again but hit a bit straighter. The ball went over the boundary once again and Shehzad had got everyone in the Gadaffi Stadium jumping and cheering in the stands.
SIX! 17.3 Cutting to Ahmed Shehzad
Watch the match at https://t.co/ZWOxe07EbG#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/QRUssvBXPj— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 15, 2017
Third six:
Shehzad’s massacre was yet to get over. Cutting was bound to bowl it slowly as he was getting pounded for bowling it full and straight. Shehzad was set to play a pre-meditated shot but had to make an improvisation in the end as Cutting bowled a slower short ball. Shehzad went across and helped the ball over the fine leg boundary for another maximum hitting third maximum in a row.
SIX! 17.4 Cutting to Ahmed Shehzad
Watch the match at https://t.co/ZWOxe07EbG#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/YGtsn8ecnX— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 15, 2017
Though Shehzad was not lucky enough to get to his second T20I century as he threw his wicket away through a runout. He missed his century by 11 runs. The opener scored 89 runs from 56 balls with the help of 8 fours and 3 sixes.
