The man affectionately known as Boom Boom was never going to bat quietly in a Natwest T20 Blast fixture, and so it was that Shahid Afridi hit a four off the first ball of Hampshire’s innings against the Derbyshire Falcons.
Boom Boom lives up to his name with 16 off the first over! 🔥💥⚡️
Follow LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/VNi5JbrMDa pic.twitter.com/s0VwDQLv2k
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
Afridi had Hampshire going at well over 10 runs an over from the start, peppering the outside of the ground with big shots.
Why do they call @SAfridiOfficial Boom Boom?
Feast your 👀 on this & get back to us 💪 pic.twitter.com/XQt9iGyXOR
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
Afridi reached his 50 in just 20 deliveries – it didn’t matter how they came.
This is a Boom Boom masterclass! He reaches 5️⃣0️⃣ off just 20 balls #stillgotit
Live video & updates >>> https://t.co/VNi5JbrMDa pic.twitter.com/sXwd8KO1xn
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
With Hampshire well placed on 97-1 off just 7.3 overs, Derbyshire needed something – out of nowhere, a chance presented itself to Wayne Madsen.
Cricket is the winner 🙈#Blast17 pic.twitter.com/u92N1uybKl
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
Dust yourself off there, Wayne.
The mistake allowed Boom Boom to continue in style.
🚀 🚀 🚀 Simply sensational hitting from @SAfridiOfficial 😲
Be Afridi, be very Afridi when Boom Boom is in the mood 🙌 pic.twitter.com/oe91mhW39N
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
And just 4.2 overs after he had been dropped in the 60s, Afridi made his first T20 century.
A maiden #T20 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for @SAfridiOfficial, off just 42 balls!
Epic. Incredible. Brutal. Sublime. Sizzling. Brilliant. BOOM BOOM! 💥 pic.twitter.com/auqII1cbsN
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
Gosh. That really is some innings. Poor Wayne Madsen.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) August 22, 2017
It came off just 42 deliveries, 12 short of Chris Gayle’s record 30, and is the equal-12th quickest T20 century of all time.
Afridi’s innings ended the very next ball however, with the batsman perhaps unsurprisingly out caught.
A standing ovation for Boom Boom. The legend departs for 101 off 43 balls 💪
Follow the action ➡️ https://t.co/VNi5JbrMDa pic.twitter.com/ZD6SOLleUW
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) August 22, 2017
Shahid Afridi has left the building.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) August 22, 2017
Hampshire eventually posted 249-8 off their 20 overs, a quite sensational effort built upon Afridi’s marvellous innings.