Watch: Iftikhar Ahmed scored a brilliant counter-punching fifty to steer Pakistan towards a healthy total against South Africa in Sydney. En route, he hit a 106-metre six off Lungi Ngidi.
Iftikhar’s strike was the biggest of the Super 12 so far, and the second-biggest in the tournament, behind UAE’s Junaid Siddique’s 109-metre strike off Dushmantha Chameera at the Kardinia Park in Geelong in the First Round. Iftikhar also equalled Odean Smith’s 106m six off Mark Adair at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Iftikhar walked in with Pakistan at 40-3 in the last over of the powerplay, which became 43-4 when Shan Masood fell in the following over.
He strung together crucial partnerships with Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, staying until the final over to end on 51 off 35. Over the course of his innings, he hit three fours and two sixes, including the 106-metre monster.
Facing Ngidi in the 16th over, Iftikhar got a slower delivery – at 119 kph – that sat up nicely around his waist length. It also allowed him to swat it into the top tier of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“He’s pulled that virtually out of the ground,” said Nasser Hussain on commentary.
Iftikhar and Shadab Khan’s fifties helped power Pakistan to 186-5, a brilliant recovery considering they were 43-4 after 6.3 overs. South Africa were 69-4 in nine overs – 15 behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern par score – when rain stopped play.
Watch the Iftikhar six here:
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