In match 12 of PSL 2024, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and elected to field first. Peshawar put up a massive opening partnership courtesy of Saim Ayub and skipper Babar Azam.

Ayub was the aggressor, blazing his way to 88 off 55 in a knock that included eight fours and four sixes. Babar anchored the innings at the other end, going at a strike rate of 133.33.

With the score reading 135-0 after 14 overs, it was time for Babar to press on the accelerator and go big. Afridi brought himself on for his third over, having gone for 13 off his first two.

On the second ball of the 15th over, Afridi delivered a back of length ball on the stumps which Babar tried to heave over mid-wicket. Not getting the timing right, he could only manage to get it to the fielder in the deep, who took a good low catch, ending Babar’s innings at 48 (36). It was the third time that Afridi had dismissed Babar in T20s.

Late cameos by Rovman Powell and Mohammad Haris took Peshawar to 211-4. Afridi finished with figures of 3-33 from his four overs.

In the run-chase, Rassie van der Dussen put up a valiant show, scoring an unbeaten hundred, but lack of support from the other batters meant Lahore fell agonisingly short by eight runs.

Watch Shaheen Afridi dismiss Babar Azam in PSL 2024:

🚨 Shaheen 🆚 Babar 🚨

Sikandar's excellence at the boundary gives Qalandars their first wicket ☝️#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #LQvPZ pic.twitter.com/jJvmpSWEYj

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 25, 2024