Imran Tahir plays his final ODI at hometown Durban, AB De Villiers calls him ‘legend’

Recently, veteran India wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni played an ODI in Ranchi and although fans predicted it to be his final appearance at his home town, there was no official confirmation about the same. However, South African spinner Imran Tahir did not hide the fact that the 50-over game he played against Sri Lanka at the Kingsmead in Durban, was his last game on the home ground in this variant.

The Pakistan-born cricketer, who will turn 40 later this month, announced last week that he would be bidding adieu to ODI cricket after the ICC World Cup this year. It means the leg-break bowler has now two matches left on his home soil – the fourth and fifth games against the Asian side.

Tahir will be playing his 100th ODI in World Cup

With the ball, Imran Tahir is having a good series as like his side which pocketed the series 3-0 after three games to avenge the shocking loss in the Test series against the Lankans last month. A veteran of 97 ODI matches, Tahir has taken seven wickets from three matches and returned with a bowling figures of 2/19 in Durban to help his side win by 71 runs via the DLS method.

Among his two scalps was Sri Lanka’s highest scorer Kusal Mendis. Tahir will be playing 99 games at the end of the series and the first match of the World Cup which will be between the Proteas and hosts England, Tahir is likely to get his 100th ODI cap. He has 160 wickets in the format at an average of 24.31 with the best bowling of 7 for 45.

Tahir tweeted after the game saying it was his final match in Durban and described it as “quite an emotional moment”. Among other players who responded to Tahir’s glorious moment on the ground was former South Africa captain AB de Villiers. The dashing batter, who quit international game last year and only plays franchise cricket now, replied to the tweet saying, “You are a legend, Imbha Guani.”

You are a legend, Imbha Guani

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) March 12, 2019

SA skipper Faf du Plessis also lauded Tahir as an “absolute gun” and said he was looking forward to play with him over the next few months and wished him a happy retirement. This World Cup will be Imran Tahir’s third after the 2011 and 2015 editions.

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