PSL 8: Dale Steyn showers praise on Shaheen Afridi

Former South African bowler Dale Steyn showered praise on Lahore Qalandars' skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi after his sensational performance against Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on February 26.

Shaheen gave Lahore the best start they could get against Peshawar. The skipper Shaheen bowled out Mohammad Haris with a sensational yorker on the second ball of his first over.

The left-arm pacer struck again in his second over as he cleaned up Peshawar's skipper Babar Azam with a magnificent in-swinging delivery. Babar had to depart after scoring only seven runs.

After Shaheen's exceptional spell, Steyn heaped praise on the pacer's wrist and urged young fast bowlers to learn to increase their pacer by looking at the Pakistan pacer.

"Shaheens wrist is amazing! The bend & flick he has is so special and a area where many young fast bowlers could look to find their extra yard of pace they searching for," he wrote on Twitter.

"Few drills one could try, but if you’re over 25 I’m sorry but it may already be too late. Still worth a try," he added.

It is worth mentioning here that Shaheen claimed a five-for in the match.

Opting to bat first, Lahore posted a mammoth 242-run target before restricting Peshawar to 201 runs in 20 overs, thanks to an exceptional batting display from Fakhar and Abdullah Shafique and a five-wicket haul from Shaheen.

In reply to the big total, Peshawar had a good partnership from Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore after losing both openers.

After Babar's departure, Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore put on a magnificent 91-run partnership off just 44 balls.

However, Cadmore was dismissed by Haris Rauf after he smashed a blistering 55 runs off just 23 balls.

The next batter to fall was Saim, who tried to take on Rashid Khan but was caught by Abdullah Shafique. The left-handed batter scored crucial 51 runs in 34 balls.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) and Rovman Powell (20) then stitched a 39-run partnership, but the Sri Lankan batter was sent packing by Zaman Khan, reducing Peshawar to 166-5.

Zaman struck again in the same over as he bowled out Powell with a slow delivery.

Shaheen claimed his third wicket in his third over. He sent Wahab Riaz back to the pavilion for a duck.

The left-armer claimed another in his last over, toppling Saad Masood's wicket with a fiery delivery.

Shaheen completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing James Neesham (12), who tried to take on the pacer but ended up getting caught behind.

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