There are only two types of bowling in international cricket; either you can be a fast-bowler or a spinner. The variations in each of these two basic methods are numerous but you will never hear that a fast-bowler bowled a ‘doosra’ or a spinner ran in and went past the 140kmph mark with his pace.
However, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi seemed to have found a middle way when he was bowling to the Australian tail in the eighth match of the 1996-1997 Carlton and United Series.
It was Afridi’s 19th ODI and throughout the series he hadn’t inspired with the bat – the role he was initially brought into the team for. Meanwhile, Wasim Akram kept using his bowling skills to find odd wickets to help the primary bowlers in their task.
In this particular match, Afridi was sent on number nine and scored only three runs off 12 balls. Pakistan were bundled out for 149 in 45.2 overs with Muhammad Wasim scoring 54 off 94 balls.
Australia came in to chase boasting names like Mark Taylor, Steve and Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan, Stuart Law and Ian Healy but Wasim and Muhammad Zahid were on target with their bowling to restrict the Kangaroos to 115-7.
Shahid Afridi was then given the ball for the first time in the match to clean up the tail and he rightly did so.
In his first over, the 40th over of the Australian innings, he bowled a short genuine leg-spinning delivery to Andy Bichel who was perplexed by the bounce it got. On the very next ball, Afridi caught him in front of the stumps as the umpire was satisfied enough to raise his finger.
Wasim bowled the 41st over to bag the wicket of Michael Bevan (24 off 83 balls).
Afridi came in for his second over and this time he produced an equal, if not better than Wasim, yorker to rattle the woodwork of Anthony Stuart.
Pakistan beat Australia on three occasions out of the four group matches, while they could only muster one win against the West Indies out of the four contests.
However, in the two finals, Pakistan was able to tame the West Indian giants to win the series.
