Afridi blasts first ton in Patrons Cricket Trophy
Bureau Report

KARACHI—Shahid Afridi blasted an attacking century to put Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) in a winning position in their Patrons Cricket Trophy Championship quadrangular round match against WAPDA at NBP Sports Complex Ground on Monday.
Hard hitting Afridi struck nine boundaries and five 6s in his 100 off mere 91 deliveries as HBL made 339 all out in their second innings. Set 393 to win, WAPDA were 107 for four in their second innings. Bilal Khilji and Shabbir Ahmed with 25 and 19 runs were at the crease at draw of stumps.
22 wickets went down on the first day of the four-day match on Sunday as HBL were bowled out for 125 in their first innings and WAPDA skitttled out for 72 in their first innings.
Afridi, who made 50 in HBL’s first innings, reached his hundred in style by lifting paceman Sarfraz Ahmed for two consecutive straight 6s before dismissed by same bowler on the next ball. Shahid Afridi took 20 runs off four balls from leg-spinner Mushtaq with 6464. After getting his first fifty in 61 balls, Afridi bludgeoned WAPDA bowling by reaching his second half century in just 28-balls.
Khaqan Arsal fell 13 runs short of coveted three figure mark, striking 12 fours and a six. Veteran test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed took five wickets for 125 runs in 25.5 overs.