[Watch] Afghanistan clinch historic ODI series victory over South Africa, win 2nd ODI by 177 runs
Afghanistan men's cricket team have registered their biggest bilateral series win in ODIs as they clinched the three-match series against South Africa in the second game at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The 177-run victory also proved to be their biggest in terms of runs in the 50-over international format as left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote castled Lungi Ngidi.
The Afghans had walked in with the series lead as they won by six wickets in the opening game at the same venue. Tasked with chasing down a stiff 312, the Proteas made a decent start to their chase, but lost wickets in clusters as Kharote and Rashid Khan left their batting unit in a mess.
Openers Tony de Zorzi and captain Temba Bavuma shared a strong 73-run opening stand, but South Africa looked completely at sea after the latter perished, top-scoring with 38.
Azmatullah Omarzai provided their side with the first breakthrough and it was the spinners' show from their on. Rashid Khan emerged as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 9-1-19-5, while Kharote snared four to bowl the opposition out for 134.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz's seventh ODI century set up a match-winning total for Afghanistan
Earlier, Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had won the toss and elected to bat first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan (29) responded with an 88-run opening stand in 17.3 overs. Gurbaz made 105 off 110 deliveries before left-arm seamer Nandre Burger cleaned him up.
Rahmat Shah also made a pristine half-century, but Omarzai provided their side with the pyrotechnics at the death. The seam-bowling all-rounder hammered 86* off 50 deliveries with five boundaries and six towering sixes to lift Afghanistan to 311 in 50 overs. Rashid, whose five-wicket haul sparked South Africa's collapse, earned the Player of the Match award.
The third and final ODI will take place on Sunday as Shahidi and his men will target a series sweep.