T10 cricket is known to be fast-paced cricket but it’s usually known so because of batting prowess, quick scoring, and big hitting. You don’t usually associate T10 cricket with bowlers getting 5-wicket hauls but that’s exactly what happened in today, which was the first day of play in the inaugural Zim Afro T10 season in Zimbabwe.
The game was Johannesburg Buffaloes vs Bulawayo Braves and the latter had already won the opening game of the day before playing again in Match 3. They were favourites here too, chasing down 106 to win and getting off to a great start in the first couple of overs. However, ‘Professor’ Mohammad Hafeez had other plans as he came in with the ball and changed the course of the game in his team’s favour.
Mohammad Hafeez 6-fer in Zim Afro T10
It’s not too often that one can pick up a 5-wicket haul in T20 cricket and it’s almost like an impossible dream in T10 cricket, because bowlers can only bowl a maximum of 2 overs, which is only 12 balls. But today, Hafeez came out and bowled a never heard of triple wicket maiden in his first over. Then, he was brought back later, only to get three more wickets in his second over.
He was hit for four on the first ball on his second over, and that was the only run-scoring ball in his spell, because he went on to get Ryan Burl the very next ball, caught in the deep. Representing Joburg Buffaloes, the 42-year old helped them to their first win in their first game in Zim Afro T10 2023. More importantly, he broke all T10 cricket records with outrageous returns of 2-1-4-6.
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Three games took place in the opening day of play at 2023 Zim Afro T10, and on SIX different occasions did bowlers end up on a hat-trick. Three of them were in this innings and two of them were for Hafeez itself, in his first as well as second over. He not only picked up a triple wicket maiden, but also got the first 5-fer in the Zim Afro T10 competition, and also record the best figures in the T10 League itself.
Bowlers impressed on this day but this was something else. Such a long international career and Hafeez never even picked a 5-fer across all formats of the game. Here however, in his first T10 game in Zimbabwe, he broke several records. What a champion Hafeez is, who is now also the Chief Selector of the Pakistan national side, after his retirement a couple of years ago.
Pakistan Chief Selector Got Six Wickets for four runs in his two overs T10 Match. Professor Mohammad Hafeez at his Best🔥♥️.#MohammadHafeez #ZimAfroT10 pic.twitter.com/bOzfgQyguE
— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) July 21, 2023
For all updates from the 2023 Zim Afro T10 as well as from other cricketing events from across the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
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