Afridi jumpstarts Pakistan!

Holy Sixes Batman!! In Pakistan's first match after the World Cup, in Shoaib Malik's first match as captain, in Mohammad Asif's return after the doping issues, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets. Sri Lanka did well to score 235 off 50 overs, after Pakistan had restricted them through miserly spells from Asif, and expensive but wicket taking spells from Umar Gul. Impressive fielding displays, with responsive captaining were the order of the day.

When Pakistan were at 137 for 5, off 32 overs, with 100 runs to come off 18, the game was in the balance. And then, Shahid Afridi took over. A strike rate of 214 goes to show that he wasn't kidding around. 4 sixes, 8 fours, including one over where he hit all of his sixes and 2 fours for a 32 run over, and suddenly there was no doubt to the match. Good win, and a welcome start for Shoaib Malik.