Flamboyant Pakistani batsman Shahid Afridi said he eyed the rare feat of hitting six sixes in an over during the course of his blistering century in the first cricket Test against India in Lahore on Saturday.
Afridi smashed four sixes off a Harbhajan Singh over during a 81-ball 103 that contained in all seven sixes and as many fours.
Only two batsmen, West Indies' Gary Sobers and Indian Ravi Shastri, have recorded the feat in first-class cricket.
"It was in my mind when I went for another six off the fifth ball. But the ball had become wet and he (Harbhajan) bowled a straight one and I couldn't hit it for another six," Afridi at the end of second day's play.
Pakistan put up a mammoth 679 for 7 declared in the first innings. India were 65 for no loss in reply at stumps. Afridi said his century today was second only to his match-winning 141 against the arch-rivals in the Chennai Test of the 1998-99 series between the arch-rivals.
"I would rate that innings of 141 at Chennai ahead of this as I was under a lot of pressure to perform and Wasim (Akram) gave me lot of encouragement and confidence," he said.
He described the wicket as totally flat and not at all helpful to the bowlers.
"It's totally dead. One needs wicket to help bowlers and batsmen to the same extent," Afridi said.
Asked how he viewed the match from this stage, Afridi said the Pakistan bowlers have a hard work ahead to get through the strong Indian batting line up.
"They have good batting strength and bat deep too. Our bowlers will have to toil hard," he said.
He also praised wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal for his knock of 102 not out, off only 80 balls which bettered the world record of Australian keeper Adam Gilchrist who had smashed a century off 84 balls against India at Mumbai in 2000-01.
"Kamran has become very good at a young age. I hope he becomes one of the main players in the future for Pakistan. He played brilliantly today," he said.
Akmal, sitting alongside Afridi, also rated his innings as only the second-best after his match-saving century in the second innings of the opening Test of the last series in Mohali last year.
"For me, my innings at Mohali is ahead of this one as we drew that match (after facing defeat)," he said speaking about that effort that came when the team was in difficulty.
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