AFG VS RSA - 2nd ODI, Afghanistan v South Africa in UAE, 2024

Rashid Khan | Player of the Match: Fifer after long time and I had a hamstring injury as well since a month, but I wanted to stay in the ground and help the team. It was a big opportunity for us to win an important series, so I wanted to contribute. I enjoy bowling with youngsters, it gives you ideas to share with them and they all listen and learn quickly. And now they have started to deliver.

It was a no contest today. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat in good conditions. Gurbaz scored a superb century and was well supported by Rahmat Shah who got a fifty, and Omarzai added the gloss with a 50-ball 86 to finish with a strong total of 311. In reply, South Africa started well as they didn't give any wickets away to Ghazanfar this time. The opening partnership was worth 73, but then Bavuma skied a pull shot and that opened the floodgates. The pitch got slower and started to grip, and then the spinners got into the game. Rashid Khan struck in first over, as he and Nabi kept things tight. New boy Nangeyalia Kharote also struck in his first over, as South Africa seemed clueless against the spinners. Rashid ended with figures of 5/19 as Kharote finished with 4/26. Nobody barring Markram made any real contributions in the South African middle order, as they succumbed to their worst defeat in ODI cricket. What a night for the Afghans, and something tells me there might be plenty more such memorable nights for them in the future...

23:10 Local Time, 19:10 GMT, 00:40 IST: Make sense of that!! Third ranked South Africa have not just been beaten, they have been bamboozled and broken by a resplendent Afghanistan. Not even the most fanciful writers with the most mystical of storylines could have scripted the success story that the world is seeing of this Afghanistan cricket team. Beating England and Pakistan in a one off game in the World Cup could have been termed as a fluke, but the concerted effort through which these splendid sons stormed through in the T20 World Cup and now in this bi-lateral series is no fluke. It is just the story of an extremely aspirational and attritional side, that dreams of the sun and isn’t afraid of getting burnt in the process. All this while most in cricket and even outside of it don’t know when they’d have their new day of complete normalcy in Afghanistan. They used to be the whipping boys of cricket about half a decade back, but now they have started to lash back, leaving deep gashes on any opponent who takes them lightly!!

Nangeyalia Kharote to Ngidi, out Bowled!! All over!! Slides one fuller and with the arm, Ngidi tried to clear the front leg for a big sweep. Ends up exposing his stumps and gets knocked over. This is the biggest margin of defeat for South Africa, they have lost 177 runs. What a performance from Afghanistan. What a team they are building out there. They claim the series with today's win. Very measured celebrations from the Afghan players, they are hugging each other and calmly embracing, as if they now believe they aren't upset results, they have earned the right to win cricket games in this fashion, no matter who the opposition! Ngidi b Nangeyalia Kharote 3(5)

Nangeyalia Kharote to Ngidi, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Nangeyalia Kharote to Ngidi, 2 runs, slider onto off stump, Ngidi tried to close the bat face and the ball takes a leading edge. Runs away past Rashid Khan at first slip for a couple of runs

Rashid Khan to Nandre Burger, no run, full on off stump, Burger leans forward to block

Rashid Khan to Ngidi, 1 run, tossed up delivery outside off, drilled down to deep extra cover

Rashid Khan to Ngidi, no run, full outside off, driven to covers

Rashid Khan to Ngidi, no run, fuller and was the leg spinner, just past the outside edge as Ngidi tried to block

Lungi Ngidi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Rashid Khan to Markram, out Bowled!! There goes the last known batter. A superb googly from Rashid, pitches on off and ends on the pads, deflects back onto leg stump as Markram was stuck in his crease. Rashid Khan has a fifer on his birthday. Bows down in celebration. What a performance this has been from him and the rest of his teammates! Markram b Rashid Khan 21(30) [4s-1]

Rashid Khan to Markram, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Rashid Khan to Markram, no run, googly, defended off the backfoot

Nangeyalia Kharote to Nandre Burger, no run, flighted around off, Burger gently turns it to mid-wicket

Nangeyalia Kharote to Nandre Burger, no run, goes straight on outside off, Burger plays for the turn and is beaten on the outside edge

Nangeyalia Kharote to Markram, 1 run, nearly! Kharote almost had his fourth. Another arm-ball and Markram makes the mistake of trying to cut, he gets an under-edge past the stumps

Nangeyalia Kharote to Markram, 2 runs, tossed up around off, Markram makes room and drives inside out to deep extra cover, just a brace

Nangeyalia Kharote to Nandre Burger, 1 run, what happened there? Burger turns this to backward square and Markram calls for the single. But Burger is late to respond and the throw goes to the bowler's end. Kharote fails to collect the throw and removes the bails without the ball. Burger was well short of the crease

Nandre Burger, left handed bat, comes to the crease