3 players who led Afghanistan to historic ODI series win vs South Africa ft. Rashid Khan
Afghanistan beat South Africa by 177 runs in the second one-dayer played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, September 20. With the triumph, they also created history, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Afghanistan had got the better of South Africa by six wickets in the first match of the series, also played at the same venue.
Afghanistan's triumph on Friday in Sharjah marked the first instance of them winning a bilateral ODI series against a side ranked among the top five in the ICC rankings. Their previous bilateral one-day series wins came against Zimbabwe, Ireland, Scotland, Bangladesh, and Netherlands.
Before the ongoing series in Sharjah, Afghanistan and South Africa had met twice in the one-day format (in the World Cup), with the Proteas winning both games. In the wake of Afghanistan's historic one-day series triumph over South Africa, we look at three heroes from the Asian team, whose performance went a long way in making the result possible.
#1 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Afghanistan left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi set up the team's memorable triumph in the first one-dayer. He registered excellent figures of 4-35 from seven overs as South Africa were bundled out for 106 in 33.3 overs after electing to bat first.
Farooqi claimed the first three wickets to fall and put the Proteas on the back foot very early in the contest. The 24-year-old knocked over Reeza Hendricks (9) with one that angled in from around the wicket. The left-arm pacer also cleaned up South African captain Aiden Markram (2) as the batter inside-edged a slower ball back on his stumps, displaying some rather poor technique.
Farooqi had his third scalp when Tony de Zorzi (11) top-edged a pull to mid-on. The wicket left the batting side in all sorts of strife at 25-3 in the seventh over. Later in the innings, the Afghanistan pacer returned to knock over Wiaan Mulder, who played a stubborn knock of 52 off 84 balls.
Young off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar provided good support to Farooqi, claiming 3-20 in his 10 overs as South Africa were bowled out for a below-par score. Afghanistan then chased down the target of 107 without much trouble, getting home in 26 overs.
#2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hammered a brilliant 105 off 110 balls in the second one-dayer against South Africa, played on Friday in Sharjah. The Asian side won the toss and decided to bat first in the ODI after which Gurbaz took the attack to South Africa's bowlers.
The aggressive 22-year-old keeper-batter struck 10 fours and three sixes in his 152-minute stay at the crease to put his team in a commanding position. The right-hander featured in a fine opening stand of 88 with Riaz Hassan (29 off 45) and also added 101 for the second wicket with Rahmat Shah (50 off 66).
Gurbaz's excellent knock ended when he was cleaned up by Nandre Burger with a length ball that nipped back from around the wicket. Azmatullah Omarzai then clobbered a superb 86* off 50 balls, with the aid of five fours and six sixes, as Afghanistan put up 311-4 in their 50 overs.
#3 Rashid Khan
After Gurbaz and Omarzai ensured that their team put up a good total on the board, leg-spinner Rashid Khan celebrated his birthday with a five-fer as Afghanistan created history with a thumping win. Rashid starred with 5-19 in nine overs as South Africa folded up for 134 in 34.2 overs.
The canny leg-spinner struck in his first over of the match, having De Zorzi (31) caught behind from over the wicket, with one that was pushed across off stump. Tristan Stubbs (5) was Rashid's next victim. Attempting a sweep, the batter lobbed a catch to leg slip.
The birthday boy also dismissed Kyle Verreynne (2), who was trapped lbw by a googly. Rashid then foxed Mulder (2) and caught him in front of the stumps as well. The 26-year-old completed a memorable five-fer by cleaning up South African captain Markram (31) with a wrong'un.
Rashid apart, young left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote also impressed with 4-26 in 6.2 overs as the Proteas succumbed to defeat by 177 runs in Sharjah. While Gurbaz laid the platform for the win with his century, Rashid was named Player of the Match for his fifth five-wicket haul in one-day cricket.