Melbourne Renegades opener Tim Seifert struck the first century of the Big Bash League season on Monday night, bringing up triple figures off just 53 balls to set up a 14-run win against the Brisbane Heat.
And in a dramatic moment four balls later, umpires told superstar Pakistani quick Shaheen Shah Afridi he was no longer allowed to bowl after he sent down two balls above waist height in the same over.
Seifert became only the second Renegades player to register a BBL century in the 15-year history of the tournament, after former captain and Australian limited-overs great Aaron Finch.
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The Kiwi international reached triple figures at Kardinia Park in Geelong when he heaved an Afridi full toss to the leg side and picked up two.
He ripped off his helmet and leapt high in the air, then raised his bat and helmet as his Renegades teammates stood and applauded from the dugout.
Shortly after, he lost his balance when he took a wild slash at a ball wide outside off, and was caught behind on 102.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket it was “as good a T20 innings as you could find”.
Seifert hit nine fours and six sixes as the Renegades posted 5-212 from their 20 overs.
He was supported superbly by highly rated youngster Ollie Peake at No.5, who plundered 57 off 29 balls after last week being named as Australia’s captain for the 2026 under-19 World Cup.
Afridi has taken 382 international wickets for Pakistan across all formats, but the left-arm quick had a forgettable night out on his BBL debut.
He registered figures of 0-43 from 2.4 overs, was hit for two sixes and was told he could no longer bowl after sending down two high full tosses in the 18th over.
The Heat were in a dire position at 6-108 when Xavier Bartlett lost his wicket in the 13th over, before Hugh Weibgen and Jimmy Peirson combined for a partnership of 78 runs to give the Brisbane side hope.
But Peirson departed for 50 and Afridi was bowled for a duck in the following over, the Renegades ending up 8-198 from their 20 overs.
Weibgen finished unbeaten on 38.
The BBL season, which kicked off with a match between the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers in Perth on Sunday, will continue with a game between the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder in Hobart on Tuesday night.
