April 16 Tuesday 2002
Afridi powers Pakistan into Sharjah Cup final

SHARJAH: Shahid Afridi's third One-day hundred powered Pakistan into the Sharjah Cup 2002 final in style here on Monday night. 

The young opener from Karachi smashed a 88 balls 100 smashing eight sixes and seven fours to send the large number of Pakistani supporters at the Sharjah Stadium into raptures. 

Afridi, who remained unbeaten on 108 and his opening partner Imran Nazir made light of the target of 214 runs set by New Zealand to set up the victory with 17.3 overs to spare. 

Afridi reaching 1000 runs at the Sharjah Stadium in the course of his magnificent hundred which was his first for Pakistan in One-day Internationals since his 100 against India in 1998 at Toronto. 

Pakistan's eight wickets victory which pits them against Sri Lanka in the final was their 10th consecutive over New Zealand at this ground. 

The win was set up by a thundering opening stand of 101 runs in 86 balls by Afridi and Imran Nazir who set the ground ablaze by scoring 50 out of a total of 57 runs reaching his half century in just 35 balls with eight fours, six of them classical drives through the off-side. 

Afridi who had played second fiddle to him in the earlier part of the innings then woke up to rip Scott Styris for three huge sixes in the 14th over. In all he hit Styris for four sixes in two overs which saw the normally accurate bowler concede 29 runs in two overs. 

Nazir was dismissed on the second ball of the 15th over when he was caught behind by Matthew Sinclair off Brooke Walker after which Afridi took complete charge of the match. 

He stepped up the pace also hitting the leg spinner Walker for two sixes in the 29th over, while Inzamam-u-Haq joined in the fun with a third six. Chris Harris also went for a six by Afridi as the New Zealand bowlers wilted under the pressure. 

The victory came in the 32nd over with Afridi hoisting Ian Butler for a four to extra cover. Inzamam remaining unbeaten on 18 runs. 

Afridi who as expected took the man of the match award later described his innings as his best and felt it was long overdue. 

"I wanted to get a big score here and after Imran had played so well I knew I could do it. The sixes came naturally as I decided to attack after we had got a good start."