India recorded a 6-run win over Australia in their first warm-up game on Monday in Brisbane. At The Gabba, India put up a par total of 186 courtest of half-centuries from KL Rahul (57 off 33) and Suryakumar Yadav (50 off 33).
Australia were equally strong in their reply. Led by Aaron Finch’s fifty (76 off 54) and opener Mitchell Marsh’s attacking knock (35 off 18), Australia brought the equation down to 16 runs required off 12 balls.
That is when, however, India’s surprisingly grabbed the game. Harshal Patel bowled a terrific 19th over: he dismissed Finch on the first ball and conceded only 5 runs, leaving 11 runs for Mohammed Shami, who hadn’t bowled a single over in the game but was summoned to deliver the last over.
With 7 needed off 5 balls, Pat Cummins was caught at long-on, and then Agar got run out. Shami closed out the over brilliantly with two yorkers bowling out a couple of tailenders.
Shaheen Afridi takes bowling tips from Shaheen Afridi
Before taking the field, Shami had a lengthy interaction with the Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi. India and Pakistan players were at The Gabba on Monday as Pakistan took on England in their warm-up match after the India-Australia warm-up fixture.
The PCB uploaded a video of Mohammed Shami and Shaheen Afridi meeting and talking about bowling with the young Pakistani pace sensation taking tips from the senior Indian seamer. As the two shook hands and hugged, Afridi asked Shami “Shami bhai kaise hai aap (How are you).”
Shaheen can be heard asking Shami about seam positions and release points with the latter explaining to him the tidbits of fast bowling, having himself learned it for more than a decade of experience. Shami happily gave Shaheen some important lessons in fast bowling, such as keeping a smooth wrist, and maintaining an upright seam – something at which he’s perhaps the best in the world at.
You can watch the video here;
The @T20WorldCup meetup: Stars catch up on the sidelines 🤩#WeHaveWeWill | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/J1oKwCDII2
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 17, 2022
The @T20WorldCup stage 🤝#WeHaveWeWill | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/J30eifvim8
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 17, 2022
With just one over in the death versus Australia, Shami perhaps sealed his spot in India’s XI for the Pakistan game, slated for October 23 at the MCG.
