The Pakistan quick defends nine in the final set, dismissing countryman Imad Wasim, to give the Cardiff-based side their second tournament win
Trent Bridge: Welsh Fire 129-6, Trent Rockets 125-8 - Welsh Fire won by four runs
Jonny Bairstow edged out his long-time teammate Joe Root in the battle of the England legends as Welsh Fire beat Trent Rockets in a thrilling encounter at a raucous Trent Bridge in The Hundred.
Rockets appeared to be favourites for most of the match until the final dramatic moments, when a series of brilliant outfield catches by Fire flipped the game in their favour. David Payne and Haris Rauf then delivered a nerveless final set to clinch the win by four runs.
The spectacular finale saw four wickets fall in the final 10 balls, with Rashid Khan – the first of the four to fall – becoming the second Rockets batter to be run out after Root had earlier been dismissed in slapstick fashion for 17, via a brilliant throw from Joe Clarke at backward point.
Sam Hain was involved in both mix-ups and although he remained unbeaten at the death, his 26-ball 22 was not enough to get the job done.
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Jonny Bairstow scooped the player of the match award, hitting 55 (ECB via Getty Images)
With Fire asked to bat first, Bairstow was the most fluent of all the batters on show, his 45-ball 55 proving to be the standout knock of a game in which the spinners held sway.
His contest with Root, who bowled a series of round-arm off-breaks from around the wicket, going for just 19 runs from his 20-ball quota, was one of numerous subplots as Fire fought for every run they could scavenge on a pitch taking appreciable spin.
Their 129 for 6 represented a fighting score, but with Root going nicely in reply after a brisk start from Alex Hales and Tom Banton, Rockets looked to be in control. A win would have taken them top of the table; instead, due to that extraordinary comeback, Fire have roared back into the mix.
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