AFG vs SA: Gurbaz, Rashid Khan power Afghanistan to historic ODI series win

Afghanistan added another chapter to their cricket folklore after they claimed.

Their maiden ODI series against South Africa in another historic achievement. On Friday, September 20, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Co. beat the Proteas by 177 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Rashid Khan celebrated his 26th birthday in the grandest way possible as the Afghans took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Rashid also had a dream day with the ball in hand after he stunned the Proteas with masterful figures of 9-1-19-5. Chasing 312, South Africa had to break West Indies’ record for the highest successful run-chase (285) in Sharjah, which was set way back in 1993. But the visitors crumbled big time under pressure and were shot out for 134 in 34.2 overs.

Gurbaz, Omarzai take charge

After opting to bat first, Afghanistan racked up a massive score of 311 for four. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan laid the platform with a partnership of 88 runs for the opening wicket. While Hassan got out for 29, Gurbaz carried on to score his seventh ODI hundred, breaking Mohammad Shahzad’s record of most centuries by an Afghan batter.

Rahmat Shah lent Gurbaz support with a 50-run knock. Once Gurbaz got out after scoring 105 with 10 fours and three sixes, Azmatullah Omarzai took the South African bowlers to the cleaners. He smashed five fours and six sixes on his way to a blazing 86 off 50 balls.

Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Nqaba Peter and Aiden Markram accounted for a scalp apiece. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin could not take a wicket, but gave away only 39 runs in 10 overs.

Rashid Khan wreaks havoc
South Africa got off to a steady start in their run-chase after skipper Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi built a partnership of 73 runs for the opening wicket off 14 overs. But once Omarzai dismissed Bavuma for 38, the Proteas innings completely fell apart. They lost 10 wickets for 61 runs in the space of 20.1 overs.

Rashid Khan ran through the opposition batting unit after getting the wickets of De Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder. Rashid also became the first bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul on birthday.

Nangeyalia Kharote was outstanding as well with figures of 6.2-0-26-4. He got the wicket of Lungi Ngidi to pull the curtains down on the match.