AFGHANISTHAN VS SOUTH AFRICA, 2ND ODI, SHARJAH: Gurbaz and Rashid Khan’s Heroics Seal Historic Series Win Over South Africa in 2nd ODI .
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s impressive century, paired with Rashid Khan’s five-wicket haul, guided Afghanistan a 177-run victory over South Africa in the second ODI of the three-match series on Friday in Sharjah. Gurbaz struck 105 as Afghanistan posted 311-4. In response, the Proteas crumbled, losing nine wickets for 61 runs and were all out for just 134 in the 35th over. Afghanistan’s openers made a strong start after winning the toss, cementing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Gurbaz and Rashid Khan’s Heroics Seal Historic Series Win Over South Africa in 2nd ODI .
TOSS –
Afghanistan won the toss & opted to bat first.
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South Africa (Playing XI):
Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Nandre Burger, Nqaba Peter, Lungi Ngidi
Afghanistan (Playing XI):
Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Ghazanfar & Fazalhaq Farooqi
AFGHANISTAN –
On a good batting track in Sharjah, Afghanistan chose to bat first. They began cautiously but soon picked up pace. After four careful overs at the start, Gurbaz decided to attack South African bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger. He scored heavily off them – smashing a six and three boundaries for 10 and 11 runs each.
South Africa brought on their spinners hoping to control things. But Gurbaz only got more confident with every shot he played. He reached his half-century off just 56 balls soon after drinks break. Aiden Markram managed to end a crucial stand of 88 by trapping Riaz Hassan LBW on 29 during the 18th over.
After getting his eye in for a couple of overs, Rahmat combined well with Gurbaz and accelerated scoring further. The duo added quick runs regularly – including two sixes from Gurbaz – contributing 58 runs briskly.
South Africa brought back Ngidi aiming to stem the run flow but even burnt a review trying to dismiss Gurbaz in vain. Gurbaz reached his century with a sweep shot off Markram but soon after was bowled by Burger ending his excellent innings.
Azmatullah was batting at a steady pace, around a run-a-ball, until Rahmat reached his fifty off 63 balls and was stumped in the subsequent over. After that, Azmatullah switched gears. In an impressive display of acceleration the slog-overs, he helped Afghanistan add 83 runs in the last nine overs. He smashed six sixes, with Nqaba Peter bearing much of the punishment, & didn’t even spare Ngidi, Burger, or Mulder in the final overs. Azmatullah finished with an outstanding 86* off just 50 deliveries.
SOUTH AFRICA-
The South African openers started positively. Tony de Zorzi was more aggressive in their 73-run partnership that lasted for 14 overs and provided a solid foundation. Azmatullah made a crucial breakthrough which then opened the floodgates. By the 18th over, South Africa had managed to reach only 83/1 when Rashid joined in and dismissed another set batter. Reeza Hendricks was outdone by an excellent delivery from Kharote as the left-arm spinner also took a wicket in his first over. From there on, South Africa began to crumble rapidly.
Rashid’s double-wicket over sent Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne back to the pavilion quickly, leaving South Africa struggling at 107/5 with another 205 runs needed in just 26 overs. With both spinners operating together, South Africa found it difficult to score freely and succumbed to scoreboard pressure. Rashid celebrated his birthday with a five-wicket haul by dismissing Markram as the ninth batter out. Kharote then wrapped up proceedings in the next over, restricting South Africa to just 134 & finishing with career-best figures of 4/26.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan scored 311/4 in their allotted 50 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 105, Azmatullah Omarzai unbeaten on 86*, Rahmat Shah contributing with a half-century; Lungi Ngidi took one wicket for fifty runs) and defeated South Africa who were all out for just 134 in 34.2 overs (Temba Bavuma making top-scored with 38 runs followed by Tony de Zorzi’s contribution of 31 runs; Rashid Khan took five wickets for nineteen runs & Nangeyalia Kharote finished with four wickets for twenty-six runs) by a margin of 177 runs.