LONDON: Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood kept his cool on the hottest day of the year in England so far by hitting a last-ball six to seal a dramatic four-wicket win for Surrey against Gloucestershire in their domestic Twenty20 tournament clash at The Oval on Wednesday.
With temperatures in London rising to 36.7 degrees Celsius (98 Fahrenheit), the 40-year-old Mahmood showed he still knew how to finish with a flourish as his unbeaten 22 off 14 balls saw Surrey to victory.
The best six-off-the-last-ball finish on the #hottestdayoftheyear you’ll see all year – take a bow @AzharMahmood11! https://t.co/QmHctcsGxE
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) July 1, 2015
Gloucestershire´s 20-year-old quick Craig Miles was the bowler to suffer, pulled over deep square leg for six by Mahmood off the final ball of the game as Surrey just got past the visitors´ 154 for five.
Mahmood had also driven the second ball he faced, from slow left-armer Tom Smith, for six. Gloucestershire did not help their cause by sending down nine wides – including one from Miles at the start of the last over – and two no-balls in the closing stages.
HIGHLIGHTS The final ball. Six to win. @AzharMahmood11 at the crease for @surreycricket. What happened next? https://t.co/bgvx9ddfNA
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) July 1, 2015
