Suresh Raina Dismisses Shahid Afridi in Only 2 Balls, Delivers Double Blow in Same Over a Day After Dominating Shakib with Smoking Batting

Suresh Raina, the former India cricket star, is still shining bright in the National Cricket League (NCL) in the USA, showcasing his talent even after retiring from professional cricket more than two years ago. After impressing with his batting skills by hitting two sixes off Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in a recent match, Raina has now proved his versatility by putting on a stellar bowling performance.

Playing for the New York Lions, Raina claimed two crucial wickets in a single over during the match against the Texas Gladiators, one of them being none other than Pakistan's legendary former captain, Shahid Afridi.

In the 10-over format league that features a host of former international stars, Raina's all-round capabilities have been pivotal for his side. Captain of the New York Lions, Raina brought himself on to bowl in the sixth over of the Gladiators' innings. His first victim, James Fuller, fell for just 3 runs off 7 balls as Raina’s clever length delivery enticed the batter into an ill-judged pull shot.

The ball, however, went straight to a well-placed short third, resulting in a straightforward catch and Fuller's dismissal. Just four deliveries later, Raina struck again, this time removing the dangerous Shahid Afridi, who attempted to sweep a delivery towards midwicket but found the fielder, sealing his fate.

Raina’s double strike dealt a severe blow to the Gladiators, turning the momentum in favour of the Lions. The Lions put up a strong 116/8 after batting first and then restricted the Gladiators to 112/9 in 10 overs. For the Lions, Ben Cutting remained the standout performer, scoring 44 off just 18 balls.

Raina ended at figures of 2/17 in the game, and Mohammad Hafeez, the former Pakistan captain, also picked as many wickets.

Earlier in the tournament, Suresh Raina showcased his aggressive batting prowess with a blistering knock of 53 runs off just 28 balls, propelling the New York Lions to a formidable total of 126 in their 10 overs. His innings was laced with three towering sixes and six crisp boundaries, keeping the opposition bowlers under constant pressure.

The Los Angeles Waves, in reply, struggled to build momentum, managing 107 for 7 at the end of their innings, falling 19 runs short of the target.