Rashid Khan rescues team from 5/20, smashes fastest fifty in Afghanistan's domestic T20 league to make crowd go bonkers; watch video

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan enthralled the crowd in Kabul in the ongoing Shpageeza Cricket League after Speen Ghar Tigers suffered a major batting collapse. With his unorthodox shots like no-look flick and helicopter shot, he prevented Tigers from getting bowled out for a low score.
 

Tigers got a revised target of 139 from 12 overs. But Fazalhaq Farooqi wreaked havoc with the new ball and dismissed Numan Shah, Samiullah Shinwari for golden ducks and Imran, Tariq Stanikzai for single-digit scores. Azmatullah Omarzai got the wicket of opener Hassan Eisakhil as well to reduce Tigets for 20/5 in just 2.4 overs.
 

Ikram Alikhil walked in to bat as impact substitute and played second fiddle to Rashid. They revived the run chase in the next few overs with Rashid doing the most damage. In the ninth over, Rashid hit Mohammad Gul Alizai for three consecutive sixes to reach his half-century from 25 balls. It is the fastest fifty of the league. But he lost his wicket the next ball. The skipper scored 53 runs from 26 balls including three fours and six sixes.

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On the next ball, Arab Gul hit a six as well. In the next over, Alikhil hit a six off Qais Ahmad. But the spinner dismissed Gul and Mohammad Ibrahim off consecutive deliveries. Farooqi returned to complete his fifer and dismiss Zahir Khan for a golden duck. Alikhil remained unbeaten for 31 off 23 balls including three fours and two sixes. Tigers posted 112/9 on the board and lost the match by 26 runs (DLS method). This was Tigers sixth defeat from seven games. They are at the bottom of the points table.

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Akbari propels Sharks to 166/3

Earlier, Amo Sharks captain Omarzai won the toss and opted to bat first. Sharks got off to a good start. Rashid broke the partnership with the wicket of Abdul Malik in the fifth over. Malik scored 26 runs from 20 balls. Omarzai contributed with a 13-ball 19 cameo before getting dismissed lbw by Gul. Opener Zubaid Akbari and Shahidullah went on to share an 89-run partnership. Akbari got bowled by Zahir on the final ball of 17th over. He hit seven sixes and three fours in his 45-ball 82. On the other end, Shahidullah remained unbeaten for 24-ball 34 and helped Sharks post 166/3.
 

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