Afridi hat-trick steals show in T10 opener

Sharjah Dec 15 (IANS) Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi s hat-trick lit up the opening night of the inaugural T10 League here helping his Pakhtoons side beat the Virender Sehwag-led Maratha Arabians by 25 runs.

In the tournament opener Kerala Kings rode on Irish Paul Stirling s unbeaten 66 to beat Bengal Tigers by eight wickets at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.

Afridi claimed the hat-trick with the first three balls to break the backbone of the Arabians who were on track with England s Alex Hales striking a 26-ball unbeaten 57 in their chase of 122.

The explosive Pakistani leg-spinner s victims included South Africa s Rilee Rossouw who holed out to Afridi s first ball caught by a fine diving catch at long-on by Najibullah Zadran before his second delivery trapped West Indian Dwayne Bravo plumb in front.

Sehwag became the third victim of Afridi s hat-trick trapped in front by an in-dipping slider.

Interestingly this was Hales first outing since the incident outside a Bristol nightclub that led to him and all-rounder Ben Stokes suspension from England duty.

--IANS
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