Shahid Afridi's maiden T20 hundred destroys Derbyshire

It was all BOOM BOOM! during the 1st quarter-final of the NatWest T20 Blast at Derbyshire. All-rounder Shahid Afridi marked his maiden T20 century in some style, as Hampshire posted 249/8 on the board. Afridi’s 43-ball 101, included 10 boundaries and 7 sixes. He batted with a strike rate of 234.88, scoring 16 runs in the very first over of the match. Apart from him, 26-year-old James Vince also joined the party, scoring a 36-ball 55, coupled with 3 sixes and boundaries a piece.

George Bailey chipped in with a cameo of 11-ball 27 but the highlight of the day was Afridi, who played shots all around the ground. Slicing the half-volleys, sending the fuller ones over the bowlers head and sweeping the spinners with delight. Afridi came into this game with just 50 runs in his last 7 matches, clearly, he wasn’t having a good time until the knockout game against Derbyshire.

He later revealed that he had asked Hampshire’s management to let him open because he felt “wasted at seven or eight” and he did prove a point by going after the Derbyshire attack. It was also the fastest hundred of the 2017 season of Natwest T20 Blast.

The right-hander finally got out for 101 off 43 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and seven sixes. Chasing 250 to win, Derbyshire batsmen lost the plot. They were bundled out for 148, with Liam Dawson picking 3/28 and Kyle Abbott bagging 3/25.

Thrashing defeat for Derbyshire

Mason Crane also chipped in with two wickets, finishing with figures of 2/33. Afridi didn’t have a similar game with the ball, as he finished his three overs reflecting figures of 0/28. The smasher will look to carry this form into the semi-finals, the all-rounder has played over 250 T20 games but scored his maiden ton last night in some unbelievable fashion. Derbyshire will surely be gutted with the way their campaign has come to an end but as the world knows, when Lala goes big, he bails out his team.

Watch: Shahid Afridi’s maiden T20 hundred destroys Derbyshire: