After a quick but entertaining knock in Pakistan‘s Super 12 encounter against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Sydney on Thursday (November 3), young Mohammad Haris will be remembered for a long time. The Peshawar native, who was batting at number 3 because Fakhar Zaman was injured, was hit in the head by Wayne Parnell’s first delivery. This was just his second Twenty20 International.
Parnell was ecstatic when he bowled Mohammad Rizwan, the former No. 1 T20I batter in the world, for just 4. After taking a knock to the head, Haris was able to gather himself and face Kagiso Rabada’s bowling in the second over. Harris hit a big six over mid-wicket, a maximum over fine leg, and a boundary over square leg in his first four balls at the crease.
Haris then hit the South African bowler Anrich Nortje for a four and a stunning six to bring his tally to 28 runs off just 10 balls before getting out. It got the attention of everyone, including Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin tweeted: “Just 5 balls in and this Haris. Phew,”
Just 5 balls in and this Haris. Phew🔥🔥. #T20WorldCup #notjinxingit 👏👏
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) November 3, 2022
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Haris, aged 21, was one of the season’s biggest surprises, leading Peshawar Zalmi’s batting with 166 runs on a 33.20 average and over 187 strike rate in five innings. When batting in the top order, Haris had the highest strike rate in PSL 2022. In his PSL debut, he had made an early impact by smashing 49 runs off of 27 balls, which ultimately proved to be a match winning innings.
Haris was also outstanding in the 50-over Pakistan Cup last year, when his team, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, won the championship, by hitting 289 runs in eight innings at an average of 41.28 and a strike rate of above 100. After Fakhar tore the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee, Haris was tapped as his substitute. Fakhar had been playing with a knee issue before the competition, and it worsened during Sunday’s match against the Netherlands.
Twitter Reacts:
ye bowling me nahi chaurai pe focus krte h…
— Nez vector (@Nez_Vector28) November 3, 2022
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He should open for the betterment of his team
Advertisement— Manjyot Wadhwa (@Manjyot68915803) November 3, 2022
Appreciated man!
— Hamza Mughal ✪ (@Hamzakhan0309) November 3, 2022
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Where was he hiding?!!!!
Advertisement— Shaurya Sharma (@shauryasharma) November 3, 2022
Big Hitting by Haris.
— MH (@Mody3118) November 3, 2022
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Ravi 👑❤️🔥
Advertisement— Asad 🇵🇰 (@Asad1345O) November 3, 2022
He might be the one who’s gona take the pressure of Babar & will allow Babar to play his own game. Babar should just nudge the single & let Haris play.
— john bright (@johnbright24) November 3, 2022
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You genius 👏
Advertisement— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) November 3, 2022
Superb hitting, Way to go!
— Anoop Singh (@anoopshaashtra) November 3, 2022
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This guy can play, what beautiful shot for boundary
Advertisement— Raazi (@Rg86037221) November 3, 2022
But they have Babar yo balance it out.
— Rohan Mehta (@RM_Strataegic) November 3, 2022
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