Shoaib Akhtar in awe after Shahid Afridi’s 42-ball ball century for Hampshire

One of the most dynamic Pakistani batsmen, Shahid Afridi has been a super star since he made his foray into international cricket. He scored the fastest century in his second ODI match against Sri Lanka and ruled the book for 17 years. Afridi, who hung up his boots from international cricket in February 2017, turned back the clock on Tuesday and entertained his fans in his old style.

Afridi scored a breathtaking 101 in only 43 balls to guide Hampshire to a victory over Derbyshire in the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals. The Pakistan all-rounder, promoted to open, smashed seven sixes and 10 fours on his way to the ton before holing out the ball on reaching his maiden Twenty20 hundred. Afridi’s spellbinding innings included some of the cleanest hittings ever witnessed in the competition, with several balls sailing out of the county ground.

Lauding the Afridi’s swashbuckling performance, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar took to Twitter and wrote, “Congrats @SAfridiOfficial on maiden #T20 century. Well played my brother. You deserve #ShabiKiJhappi “

Congrats @SAfridiOfficial on maiden #T20 century. Well played my brother. You deserve #ShabiKiJhappi 🙂 #NatwestT20Blast #BoomBoomAfridi

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 23, 2017

Hampshire to play in their seventh finals day in the last eight years

Afridi’s 101 makes him the fastest centurion in the 2017 T20 Blast, beating the 45-ball centuries made by Worcestershire’s Joe Clarke and Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales. James Vince also contributed with the willow scoring 55 from 36 deliveries as Hampshire piled up 249-8 at Derby.

Derbyshire came out swinging but was all out for 148, with Liam Dawson and Kyle Abbott taking three wickets each. During their chase, they perished to 58/7 and looked set for the heaviest Twenty20 defeat of all time, before a last-wicket stand of 46 between Cotton and Imran Tahir brought some much-needed consolation to the camp.

Two-time T20 Blast winners Hampshire will now appear in their seventh Finals Day in the last eight years at Edgbaston on 2 September.