On This Day: Shahid Afridi picks third ODI five-wicket haul and the then career-best figures vs Australia in Dubai

Shahid Afridi picks third ODI five-wicket haul: The Pakistani all-rounder had deceived the Australians with his splendid performance.

On this day in 2009, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi had spun a web around the Australian batsmen to register his third ODI five-wicket haul and the then career-best bowling figures during the first ODI of Australia’s tour of Pakistan in Dubai.

The then Australia captain Michael Clarke’s decision to bat first after winning the toss didn’t work well for his team as they were bundled out for 168 in 38.5 overs.

Afridi, who was introduced into the attack ahead of a specialist spinner in Saeed Ajmal in the 13th over, drew first blood in the 19th over when Australia opening batsman Brad Haddin (40) played a lofted drive straight to the then Pakistan captain Younis Khan at cover.

Bowling his sixth over in a row, Afridi put Australia on the back-foot by dismissing the all-rounder duo of Andrew Symonds (2) and Shane Watson (40). While Symonds was caught behind by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, Watson looked clueless against a googly which ended up hitting the stumps.

In his next over, Afridi sent back Callum Ferguson (2) whose attempt to play a cover drive saw him edging the ball to Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip. With the Australian bowlers in the middle, it was only a matter of few deliveries when Afridi counted for Nathan Bracken’s (1) wicket to pick a five-wicket haul.

Younis’ decision to bowl out Afridi reaped fruits as the leg-spinner dismissed Stuart Clark (2) to reduce Australia to 122/9 in the 31st over and register bowling figures of 10-0-38-6.

Australia all-rounder James Hopes top-scored for his team to score 48* (46) with the help of five fours and gave the visiting bowlers some chance in the second innings. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Pakistan comfortable sealed the chase in the 45th over to go 1-0 up in the series.

Shahid Afridi picks third ODI five-wicket haul

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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