Off the back of his maiden T20 ton (42 balls) last time out in the quarter-final, much was expected from the Pakistan cult hero at Edgbaston for finals day.
While he was effective with the ball, Afridi went for a golden duck – in the very first ball of Hampshire’s run chase – as his team failed to chase down their 170 target, losing by 23 runs.
It meant Notts set-up a final meeting with the Birmingham Bears.
Here, we look at how Afridi’s T20 Blast Finals Day unfolded on Saturday.
WITH THE BALL
Afridi – along with promising England spinner Mason Crane – was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 1-22 from his four overs.
Indeed, the Green Army legend has acted as a mentor for the 20-year-old for most of his summer stint with the Ageas Bowl club.
While his ability to contribute with the bat (more on that later) has waned over the past decade, he is still a huge threat with the ball in his hands.
He picked up the wicket of Brendan Taylor and bowled tight, measured leg-spin lines – making him very difficult to get away on a slow track.
In the field, when often found at gully, he took two comfortable catches.
The Pakistani cult hero was a menace with his bowling.
WITH THE BAT
Well, what to say.
Afridi lasted just one ball – holing out a full length delivery from Samit Patel (that in truth wasn’t really there to hit to the fence) – and got caught comfortably on the boundary.
His heave out to the leg-side and subsequent first baller is something we’ve seen time and time before. That’s just the way he has and always has played – pure attacking intent from ball one.
In recent years, it hasn’t gone well and his form with the bat has been pretty dire – his maiden T20 quarter-final hundred aside – earlier this month.
But Hampshire felt he could cause some carnage as an opener again – much like he did against Derbyshire – but this time it didn’t work.
The Yellows needed him to occupy the crease for much longer and provide some fireworks at the top of the order in their 170 chase.
There’s nothing wrong with going for it in T20 cricket, but off the very first ball of the innings, he just couldn’t help himself trying to smash the spin of Patel out of the park.
His soft dismissal set the tone for a series of poor shot selection throughout the Hampshire innings – which ultimately ended in their downfall.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AFRIDI?
The 37-year-old will return to Pakistan and gear-up for the Afghan T20 League – Shpageeza – which runs from September 11 to 22.
Given his participation in the fifth edition of that event, it’s unlikely he will be in Lahore for a scheduled farewell ceremony the PCB had organised on September 14, paying tribute to Afridi, Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan.