Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi hammered a 42-ball century to lead Hampshire to a commanding 101-run victory against Derbyshire in the first Natwest T20 Blast quarterfinal on Tuesday. Afridi, who retired from international cricket in February this year, smashed seven sixes and 10 fours during his 43-ball 101 before holding out. Afridi was sent to open the batting and he led Hampshire to 249/8 - their highest T20 score. Captain James Vince too made 55 from 36 deliveries.
Afridi's innings included some of the cleanest hits ever witnessed in the tournament's history at Derby's County Ground. Afridi's hundred was the fastest in the 2017 T20 Blast, surpassing the 45-ball hundreds made by Worcestershire's Joe Clarke and Nottinghamshire's Alex Hales.
Chasing the imposing target, Derbyshire slipped to 58/7 before being beaten comprehensively.
Hampshire have now sealed their place for the Finals Day at Edgbaston on 2 September.
Afridi, a hugely followed cricketer during his 21-year international career, was in poor form before the match, scoring just 50 runs in seven innings.
Afridi burst onto the scene in 1996, hitting a 37-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in only his second match to set a new world record which remained intact for 17 years befoWestT20Blast/status/900248059837329409}re South Africa's AB de Villiers struck a 31-ball century against West Indies in 2015.
