Cricket: Afghanistan win maiden series vs South Africa

Afghanistan have won a bilateral series against South Africa for the first time in their cricketing history, with Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz the architects of a dominant 177-run win in the second ODI in Sharjah on Friday.

Having won the first ODI by six wickets on Wednesday, Afghanistan now have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, and are poised to execute a rare whitewash in the final clash on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan grabbed the bull by the horns and made a strong start.

Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan put on 88 for the first wicket, before Hassan fell for 29 runs from 45 balls.

Gurbaz carried on to score the bulk of Afghanistan’s runs, eventually falling for 105 from 110, having taken his side through to just short of 200 runs.

Both Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai made healthy contributions as well.

Shah clocked a half century before getting stumped, while Omarzai plundered 86 from 50 balls and carried his bat, helping Afghanistan to a total of 311/4 from their 50 overs.

In response, South Africa started strongly.

Captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi combined for a 73-run opening stand, before Bavuma fell in the 14th over.

What followed was an absolute disaster for the visitors.

Khan and Nangeyalia Kharote combined to take nine wickets, with South Africa making just 61 more runs after their first batsman fell.

Khan was particularly impressive, bagging 5/19 at a rate of 2.11 per over, while Kharote was not far off either, with 4/26 from his 6.2 overs.

The result was a limp performance from South Africa, who stuttered to 134 all out from just 34.2 overs.

Captains reflect ahead of third ODI

“Congrats to our nation,” declared Afghani captain Hashmatullah Shahidi after the win.

“I think we’re happy here and all people back home will be happy.

“I think all of them – the way Gurbaz started, Rahmat and Omarzai carried on. In the batting, all of them were very good.

“When it comes to bowling, I know the spinners will deliver it for me.”

Khan – who was celebrating his 26th birthday on Friday – shared that he struggled with a hamstring injury throughout the match, but chose to persist to help secure the historic victory.

“I had a hamstring injury but I try my best to stay on the ground and do my best for the team,” explained Khan.

“Great opportunity for us to win the series against a big team, so I had to stay till the end.

“We had an opportunity to win the series against SA and the love for the game keeps pushing you to play.

“So, I thought I was able to play and be able to stay for the team.

“Good job to the physio as well.”

South Africa’s Bavuma was understandably less pleased with the outcome in Sharjah, labelling his side’s performance “not good enough”.

“I think the job for openers is to lay the foundation but wickets started falling and we came unstuck against spin,” he explained.

“Not a good enough performance.

“Like I said, you gotta take the learnings and be as positive as you can.

“Sunday will be another opportunity for the boys.”

Cricket bookmakers now have Afghanistan as favourites to win the third ODI, having initially pegged them as underdogs heading into the series.

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