Former Proteas fast bowler Hardus Viljoen delighted in the dismissal of Pakistan big-hitter Shahid Afridi as the Northern Warriors beat the Pakhtoons in the final of Sharjah’s T10 League on Sunday.

Viljoen bowled Afridi and also removed fellow South African Colin Ingram. The Warriors won by 22 runs to claim the title.

‘Me and Afridi have had a few battles and he has always come out on top,’ The National quoted Viljoen as saying.

‘I played him in a quarter-final in England, where he smashed a ton off 40-odd balls. Then in the knockout game, in the T10 League on Saturday, he also came off.

‘I went to bed thinking, “Please, just let me get him once.” Fortunately, tonight was my night, but hopefully there will be many more battles like that.

‘It helps the viewers feel part of the competition, because they want to see the best batters in the world be competitive with great bowlers that can put them under pressure. That is the nature of this game.’

Viljoen took the most wickets in the tournament. His 18 wickets outdid West Indies and Maratha Arabians seamer Dwayne Bravo, and Pakistan and Pakhtoons fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, who took 10 each.

The 29-year-old right-armer played one Test for the Proteas, against England at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in early 2016, and has since signed a Kolpak contract with Derbyshire in England. The Kolpak contract does not allow Proteas selection for Viljoen.

Photo: Gallo