FASALABAD, Dec 24 (TNS): After the first ever T10 Cricket League played in the UAE a week ago it seems this format of the game has caught the eye of the organizers and fans alike.
A charity match in the same format was hosted here on Sunday which was enjoyed by sizable crowd that thronged in Iqbal Stadium to watch renowned international players in action.
The Shahid Afridi foundation organized the match and it was played as 10-over a side contest. Batting first SAF Reds scored 201 in 10 overs. SAF Green needed a strong response and it was powered by Babar Azam’s magnificent hundred.
Pakistan’s most consistent performer with the bat was at his striking best tonight as he absolutely nailed each ball that was darted his way. He made room for himself moving towards the off-side, and he was in a much better position to strike the ball on the on-side. He didn’t have a particularly good game in the first half as he attempted to have a go with the ball and was hammered by his national teammate Shoaib Malik. Having conceded six sixes in his over Babar wanted to make a comeback in the game.
In order to redeem himself, he made his way to an unbelievable hundred in a 10 overs game. All he took to touch triple figures was 26 balls. While the world is still praising India’s Rohit Sharma for his 35-ball T20I century against Sri Lanka the other night, he got there having played nine fewer deliveries.
On his way to the hundred, which is the first ever in T10 cricket, Babar carted 11 mega sixes and 7 boundaries. To the bowlers’ credit, they were successful in bowling two dot balls to the batsman who was otherwise in a kill mode. He maintained an unbelievable strike rate of 384.62.
SAF Red powered by Malik’s 20-ball 84 (retired) and Fakhar Zaman’s 23-ball 76 posted 201/1 in their share of overs. But Babar’s effort ensured SAF Green got over the line in what was expected to be a tricky chase. Skipper and the man behind the match Shahid Afridi scored the winning runs as he hit a boundary through the off-side to conclude the game that was played for a great cause.
