September 18, 2024

Rashid’s Birthday Five-Wicket Haul and Gurbaz’s Century Seal Series Win for Afghanistan

South Africa collapsed dramatically, losing ten wickets for just 61 runs and finishing their innings at 134 while chasing Afghanistan’s target of 312. This marked Afghanistan’s first bilateral series win against a top-five ICC-ranked team, celebrating a 177-run victory in Sharjah. Afghanistan showcased their strength with the ball two days prior and with the bat, scoring their tenth total of 300 or more runs. The collapse of South Africa’s batting lineup resulted in one of their most significant defeats by runs as they struggled to mount a serious challenge.

Afghanistan’s success was highlighted by birthday boy Rashid Khan, who celebrated turning 26 with his fifth career five-wicket haul. The day started strong with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring his seventh ODI century and Rahmat Shah contributing a solid half-century. Azmatullah Omarzai also made a significant impact, scoring the fastest fifty in ODIs off just 32 balls and finishing with an impressive 86 runs from 50 balls. His explosive performance helped Afghanistan add 93 runs in the last ten overs, setting a daunting target. Alongside Rashid’s outstanding bowling, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote excelled with career-best figures of 4 for 26. With the series now 2-0 in Afghanistan’s favor and one match left, they are in a strong position.

After choosing to bat, Afghanistan took control of the match, leaving South Africa to field in extreme heat. Although the official temperature was 38 degrees Celsius, it felt closer to the late 40s, making conditions challenging for the bowlers. Afghanistan’s openers, Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan, laid a solid foundation with an 88-run partnership for the first wicket. Gurbaz then teamed up with Shah for a 101-run stand, forming the backbone of Afghanistan’s innings.

Spin Strategies and Batting Brilliance: Gurbaz’s Milestone Innings Against South Africa

South Africa’s spinners, Bjorn Fortuin and Aiden Markram, were the most effective bowlers, conceding just 59 runs in 14 overs. However, debutant legspinner Nqaba Peter struggled with his bowling, and Nandre Burger was also costly, giving away 68 runs. Lungi Ngidi shone among the seamers, especially at the end of the innings. Still, South Africa could not take wickets. This allowed Afghanistan to build two significant partnerships of 55 runs off 40 balls and 40 runs off just 23 balls.

Gurbaz started the innings with a bang, hitting a massive six over long-off off Ngidi. He quickly accelerated, moving from just 4 runs in his first 15 balls to 24 runs off 24 balls with a series of powerful shots. While Fortuin kept his end under control during the powerplay, Burger’s use of short balls backfired, costing 32 runs in his first five overs. Peter had a tight first over but allowed boundaries in his next two. Markram eventually broke through, claiming Hassan’s wicket with a delivery that caught him on the pad after an inside edge.

Gurbaz slowed down for a couple of overs but couldn’t resist the urge to attack when Wiaan Mulder came on in the 21st, hitting him for his second six over long-on. This sparked an exciting display of shots from Gurbaz and Rahmat, draining South Africa’s energy. Rahmat reverse-paddled a ball from Markram for a boundary and flicked Mulder for another four. Meanwhile, Gurbaz lofted Peter over mid-off and swept Fortuin to deep backward square, edging closer to 90 runs.

As Gurbaz approached his century, nerves set in. He spent 18 deliveries in the 90s, including seven on 99, with a maiden over from Fortuin adding to the tension. He finally reached his milestone by sweeping Markram behind square leg. His reaction was heartfelt; he dropped his bat, fell to his knees in sajdah, then composed himself to make a heart shape with his hands and blow a kiss to the dressing room and the lively Sharjah crowd. Unfortunately, in the next over, he swung at a delivery from Burger, missed, and was bowled out, ending an outstanding innings. This marked his third consecutive year of scoring two centuries and made him the player with the most ODI hundreds for Afghanistan, surpassing Mohammad Shahzad’s record of six.

Afghanistan’s Batting Surge and South Africa’s Spin Collapse

Afghanistan reached 200 runs in 36 overs, aiming for a total exceeding 300. However, Peter made it challenging for them in the final ten overs, claiming his first ODI wicket by dragging his length back to stump Rahmat, who scored 50.

Omarzai made his aggressive intent clear during the final overs, hitting Mulder for a six-over long-off just two balls into the last ten. He then sent Peter over the same area twice more and hit a fourth six over mid-wicket, bringing up his half-century off just 32 balls. Mohammad Nabi was supportive of their 55-run partnership. Still, he was dismissed for 13 when he tried to hit a slower ball from Ngidi and skied it to Bavuma.

When Rashid Khan came to bat, he faced immediate trouble, not from the bowlers but from a hamstring issue. After hitting Ngidi to sweeper cover and running two, he pulled up, appearing to strain his hamstring. Despite this, he managed to contribute as Omarzai helped push Afghanistan past 300, and his fitness issues didn’t show while fielding.

South Africa started their chase steadily with an opening partnership of 73 runs in 14 overs between captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi. However, after Bavuma was dismissed, Rashid’s introduction sparked a dramatic collapse. Bavuma top-edged a short ball from Omarzai, and Nabi took a well-judged catch. He didn’t face Rashid, who immediately caused problems, teasing Reeza Hendricks with his first delivery. Four balls later, de Zorzi edged a drive off Rashid to Ikram Alikhil.

South Africa struggled against the spin, scoring only 11 runs in the next four overs as pressure mounted. When left-arm spinner Kharote was introduced in the 23rd over, Hendricks, looking unsettled, stayed back in his crease and was bowled. Tristan Stubbs was given out on review after gloving a sweep off Rashid to Nabi at leg slip. Two balls later, Kyle Verreynne fell lbw to Rashid’s wrong ‘un. Rashid claimed his fourth wicket when Mulder was beaten while staying back, and Kharote bowled Fortuin with a low delivery. At 112 for 7, South Africa found themselves in a dire situation with no way back.

Rashid claimed his fifth wicket by bowling Markram with a clever googly. Charlotte also took key wickets around that time, leaving South Africa in disarray. In total, they lost all ten wickets in just 20.3 overs.