Irfan makes history with record T20 spell

Mohammad Irfan has produced the most economical four-over spell in T20 history for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League - but it wasn't enough to get his team over the line against St Kitts and Nevis.

The towering Pakistan quick took two wickets and conceded just one run from his four overs against the Patriots in Bridgetown on Saturday (Sunday morning AEST). Incredibly, he bowled 23 dot balls before leaking a scampered single off his 24th and final delivery, finishing with figures of 4-3-1-2.

His economy rate of 0.25 bettered the previous four-over best of 0.5 bowled by Chris Morris for the Cape Cobras in South Africa’s Ram Slam in November 2014, and by Chanaka Welegedara for Tamil Union in Sri Lanka in April 2015.

Irfan captured the key wicket of Chris Gayle with the first ball of the innings, following up with the scalp of fellow opener Evin Lewis in his second over.

He beat the bat a total of 17 times and drew one edge, with the St Kitts pair of Brandon King and Devon Thomas at a loss as to how to handle the giant quick.

The end of Irfan’s spell brought relief for the St Kitts pair, who recovered to put on 88 runs for the third wicket - including 27 runs from one horror Steve Smith over, which included four sixes.

They added 59 runs in the space of 15 deliveries as King reached his maiden CPL half-century from 42 deliveries, while Thomas struck 32 (29) of his own before being bowled by Wahab Riaz. 

King eventually perished for 60 off 49 in the 16th over, but Ben Cutting picked up where he left off striking 29no from 21 to see St Kitts to victory by four wickets with seven balls to spare.  

Earlier, the Tridents posted 6-147 courtesy of a half-century from Jason Holder (54 off 35), helped by 26 off 24 from compatriot Shai Hope.

Coming in at No.6, former Australia captain Smith found the boundary first ball with a reverse sweep but he couldn’t add to his tally, dismissed on the third ball he faced. 

Source: cricket.com.au