WATCH: Rashid Khan’s 5-fer lights up Afghanistan’s ODI series win over South Africa

In an amazing display of skill and technique, Afghanistan‘s Rashid Khan he led his team to victory South Africa in the second ODI in their three-match seriesachieved a dominant victory of 177 runs. The match, held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, showcased Rashid’s incredible talent, as he celebrated his birthday with an impressive five-wicket haul.

Rashid Khan’s bowling masterclass

First wicket (18th Over): Rashid’s first header came when he duped the South African opener Tony de Zorzi with a full delivery that went over the inside edge, leading to a catch to the wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil. De Zorzi left 31 runs.

Second Wicket (24th Over): He struck again and after that, he chased away Tristan Stubbs. A more zipped delivery has found its way to the gloves Mohammad Nabi at the crease, confirming Rashid’s brilliance as he caught one of South Africa’s top spin bowlers for just 5 runs.

Third Wicket (24th Over): Rashid continued his attack, posting Kyle Verreynne I returned to the pavilion in just 2 runs. His sharp googly caught Verreynne offside, leading to a straight LBW decision.

Fourth wicket (26th Over): Wiaan Mulder he followed, and he too fell victim to Rashid’s relentless bowling. Another LBW decision, this time for 2 runs, highlighted Rashid’s amazing ability to read the game and exploit the batsmen.

Fifer (34th Over): The final nail in South Africa’s coffin was driven home by Rashid’s fifth wicket – Aiden Markram. A well-executed googly hit the stumps, capping Rashid’s amazing birthday present. Markram gave up 21 runs.

Here is the video:

Birthday celebration well done! 🥳

Rashid Khan celebrated his birthday in style picking up 5️⃣ wickets and disrupting South Africa’s chase. 🔥#AFGvsRSAonFanCode pic.twitter.com/UHbT7RgPtz

– Fan Code (@FanCode) September 21, 2024

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Afghanistan’s dominance in the series

Batting first, Afghanistan posted an impressive 311 runs, losing just four wickets in their allotted 50 overs. An important contribution has emerged Rahmanullah Gurbaz who scored 105 runs, used the terms and built a formidable score. The team’s ability to hit deep proved to be crucial in putting pressure on the South African team.

Chasing 312, South Africa made a mistake and were bowled out for 134 against Afghanistan’s bowling attack, especially under Rashid.

With this amazing victory, Afghanistan not only won the match but also won the series 2-0, which shows their growth in international cricket. Rashid was deservedly named Man of the Match for his brilliant performance, finishing with figures of 5 for 19 in 9 overs.

As the series heads into the final game, Afghanistan have established themselves as a strong contender in the world, leaving South Africa to regroup and rethink their strategy. The final ODI promises to be an exciting end to an exciting series.

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