‌AUS vs PAK | Twitter reacts as Irfan produces second stunner after offbeat law denied his first

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

Yesterday at 3:25 PM

Tough times don’t last long but tough people do. Irfan Khan exemplified it for a short period of time during the Australia versus Pakistan first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne as he produced a scintillating catch immediately after his dedicative efforts were denied by cricket laws.

Eyeing to surmount a 204-run target, Australia lost a couple of early wickets in the form of openers, Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk. However, Steve Smith and Josh Inglis stabilised the stage by mixing caution with aggression as the net run rate constantly lured around the 6 runs per over mark. The pair took on the first and second-change Pakistani bowlers for a good period of the second powerplay to propel the total past the 100-run mark. As the partnership neared ninety, Haris Rauf broke the stand in the 17th over, albeit Inglis continued with an aggressive approach before Irfan’s fielding came to Pakistan’s rescue.

The third ball of the 20th over saw Shaheen Afridi bowled a back of a length delivery outside the stumps to Inglis who pulled it towards the deep square leg region. Irfan at the deep leaped from the edge of the boundary ropes and palmed the white rock inside the field of play. However, the TV umpires observed that the fielder had one leg at the cushion while attempting the save and signalled it a six. Unaware of the rules, Irfan was vividly frustrated but did not give up on perfecting yet another fielding effort. The next ball, Inglis tried to clobber a six in the same region and Irfan ran along the ropes and leaped dived towards the ball to complete a scintillating take. Certainly, the batter exemplified a never give up attitude and the Twitterverse lauded his endeavours.

What a catch!

— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889)

What a try!

Irfan Khan stopped the Six with Super man stuff but before flying he just touched the boundary line, he got another chance in next ball, he grabbed it safely. |
— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_)

Great effort!

Brilliant fielding by Irfan on the boundary with a perfect catch 🔥

— M (@anngrypakiistan)
Appreciation tweet for Irfan Khan niazi. His fielding was so amazing 👏🙌.
— h. 🇵🇸 (@proudpctfan)

He put his 100% there!

That was not a six man but took a brilliant catch after Irfan khan you beauty
— Sherry 🇵🇸 (@Sherryy177)

Great catch but it was six!

Brilliant catch 👏👏 Irfan Khan ❤️
— عاصم چمکنی 33 (@AJASIMKHAN)

Yeah!

This was an excellent catch from Mohammad Irfan Khan to pick the wicket of Josh Inglis as Shaheen Shah Afridi picked his 2nd !! 👏👏
— Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng)

True that!

What an attrmp for catch by Irfan Khan Niazi 🔥
— Zohaib_804 (@Zohaib_804)

Brilliant by Irfan but unlucky!

WHAT A CATCH BY IRFAN 🔥 How can a debutant can picks up that running catch 😱

Standing ovation for Irfan Khan Niazi 🇵🇰 🫡
— Furqan👑🖤 (@furqan_ashfaq77)

What?

Wasim Akram in the comm box: "I have checked out of IPL"

Mark Howard: "Why?"

Wasim bhai: "Because we are not allowed anymore"
— Faiz Fazel (@theFaizFazel)

Hahaha!