NEW DELHI: Afghanistan fast bowler
Fazalhaq Farooqi
expressed his determination to achieve a hat-trick in future matches after narrowly missing the milestone twice during the
T20 World Cup
Group C encounter against Uganda.
Afghanistan, batting first, posted a competitive total of 183/5. Farooqi showcased his bowling prowess in the very first over by taking consecutive wickets, first dismissing Ronak Patel with an inswinger and then deceiving
Roger Mukasa
with a similar delivery.
A second opportunity for a hat-trick presented itself in the 13th over but was thwarted by Bilal Hassan's defensive play.
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In his remarks following the match, Farooqi acknowledged the elusive nature of hat-tricks, stating his intent to seize any future opportunity to claim one.
"I have missed it (getting the hat-trick) a few times (smiles). Something that is not under my control and if I get a chance again, I will try to get that hat-trick," Farooqi said
Farooqi attributed his success to a varied bowling strategy that included a mix of slower balls and inswingers, aimed at targeting the stumps and complicating the batsmen's response.
"I tried to bowl a few balls and then see what was happening. I tried to make the most of the swing early on. Later, I tried to bowl the slower balls and mix it up. Kept it simple and wanted to hit the wickets. Playing franchise cricket helps you improve and helps on the big stage as well. Playing with so many big players, it helps in dealing with pressure and in bowling in the right areas," he added.
This approach proved instrumental in Afghanistan's comprehensive victory, as Uganda was restricted to 58 runs in 16 overs, securing a 125-run win for Afghanistan. This victory placed Afghanistan at the top of Group C with two points and a net run rate of 6.250.
Looking ahead, Afghanistan aim to continue their winning streak in their upcoming match against New Zealand at the Providence Stadium, Guyana. Farooqi's contributions, both in terms of wicket-taking and maintaining economical bowling figures, will be crucial for Afghanistan as they seek to advance in the tournament.
(Inputs from ANI)
English (US) ·