Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a brilliant century while leg-spin sorcerer Rashid Khan celebrated his 26th birthday by taking five wickets as Afghanistan crushed South Africa by 177 runs in the second one-day international on Friday.
Gurbaz scored 105 as Afghanistan made 311-4 before the Proteas lost nine wickets for 61 runs to be bowled out for just 134 in the 35th over.
He is of the same age, 22, and it was his seventh century in the ODI career, while his innings came off 56 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
I had a hamstring injury, but I try my best to stay on the ground and do my best for the team,” said man-of-the-match Rashid after taking 5-19. “It was a great opportunity for us to win the series against a big team, so I had to stay till the end.
Afghanistan started brightly as the openers made a capital of winning the toss. They added 88 for the first wicket between Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan, whose leg before for 29 was made possible by Aiden Markram.
That brought in Rahmat Shah (50), who put on 101 runs for the third wicket with Gurbaz before the left-handed opener fell shortly after reaching his milestone, bowled by Nandre Burger for 105.
After that, the innings slowed down slightly, though Azmatullah Omarzai hit the accelerator with a quickfire, an undefeated 50-ball 86 that contained six sixes to make for an awkward chase for the Proteas.
In retaliation, South Africa’s openers, skipper Temba Bavuma, who led the run-scoring chart with 38, and Tony de Zorzi (31) added 73 for the opening wicket.
But once they had walked off, the Proteas disintegrated.
Leg-spinner Rashid took 5-19 from nine overs and was ably supported by young off-spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who enjoyed figures of 4-26 in just his third ODI appearance.
