Shaheen Shah Afridi has made a habit of striking in the very first over of the innings, both on the international stage and in T20 leagues across the world, including Pakistan.
The left-arm pacer continues to live up to that reputation in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), consistently delivering match-winning performances for Lahore Qalandars.
On Tuesday, Afridi showcased his trademark early aggression once again, removing Karachi Kings’ openers David Warner and James Vince in the first over of the match. His fiery spell dismantled the hosts’ top order and set the tone for Qalandars’ commanding 65-run victory.
Afridi finished with three wickets in the match, and his opening burst helped him set a new PSL record, he now holds the most wickets taken in the first over of innings in PSL history, with 22 scalps. The stat underlines his dominance with the new ball and his value as a strike bowler.
The win was especially significant for Lahore Qalandars, as it lifted them to second place in the points table and ended Karachi Kings’ five-match winning streak against the Qalandars.
It also marked Qalandars’ first victory over the Kings since the 2022 season, having failed to beat the 2020 champions in the past two editions.