In the 6th over, Shaheen Afridi dismissed Matthew Short, who was looking solid with 19 runs off 14 balls. Afridi bowled a short, wide delivery, tempting Short to drive. Short tried to punch it through the off-side but sliced it straight to Babar Azam at cover-point, who held onto a sharp catch. This wicket gave Afridi his second in the game, pushing Australia to 41/2 and giving Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough.
Josh Inglis entered next and faced Afridi’s precision bowling. Afridi bowled a hard length that forced Inglis back, making him awkwardly defend. Inglis got off the mark stylishly, striking a full delivery through covers for four. But Afridi continued to probe, keeping Inglis under pressure with accurate, well-placed deliveries. Despite Inglis’s boundary, Pakistan’s bowling attack kept him from settling comfortably.
Steven Smith’s Quick Boundaries off Naseem Shah
In the previous over, Naseem Shah bowled to Steven Smith, who was yet to find his rhythm. After a few cautious deliveries, Smith capitalized on an over-pitched delivery from Naseem. He drove elegantly through covers for four, followed by a powerful slap in front of point. This brought two boundaries in succession, helping Smith ease into his innings and put some pressure back on Pakistan’s bowlers.
Jake Fraser-McGurk’s Promising Start Ends with LBW by Shaheen Afridi
Jake Fraser-McGurk had a promising start for Australia, hitting three boundaries off Naseem Shah’s deliveries in the first over. However, Shaheen Afridi struck in his second over, trapping Fraser-McGurk with a fuller delivery that angled slightly away. Fraser-McGurk misjudged the line and played down the wrong line, resulting in a clear LBW. This early dismissal gave Afridi his first wicket and shifted momentum toward Pakistan.
Afridi and Naseem’s Combined Attack Stifles Australian Batting
Afridi and Naseem Shah continued their disciplined bowling, focusing on hard lengths and occasionally varying their pace. This approach kept Australia’s run rate in check, and the early wickets forced Australian batters to adopt a cautious approach. Afridi’s ability to mix up his lengths kept the Australians guessing, while Naseem supported him by maintaining pressure from the other end. Their relentless efforts left Australia at a vulnerable position with two key wickets down in the early stages.
Missed Opportunity by Shaheen Afridi on the Field
Afridi had a chance to make an impact in the field when he attempted to catch a powerful pull shot by Matthew Short at deep square leg. However, he missed the opportunity, allowing the ball to slip through his hands and roll to the boundary. Despite this fielding error, Afridi quickly recovered, taking Short’s wicket shortly afterward to ensure his error didn’t cost Pakistan too much.
Pakistani Bowlers Maintain Early Control
With Afridi and Naseem taking charge, Australia managed only 41 runs after the first 6 overs, losing two key players. Afridi’s two wickets and his accuracy set a strong tone for Pakistan’s bowling attack, while Naseem’s ability to contain runs kept Australian batters cautious. Despite Steven Smith’s boundaries, Pakistan maintained control through tight field placements and accurate bowling.
With two early wickets down, Australia faces an uphill battle to stabilize and build a substantial score. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, look determined to keep the pressure on and capitalize on the early breakthroughs. As the innings progresses, all eyes will be on how Australia’s middle order responds and if Pakistan can continue their disciplined bowling to restrict Australia’s scoring opportunities.
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