Afghanistan cricket team led by Hashmatullah Shahidi scripted history by registering their first-ever ODI series win against South Africa. Hosts Afghanistan defeated the Proteas by 177 runs in the second ODI to seal the three-match ODI series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium at Sharjah. The 177-run victory is Afghanistan's biggest victory by runs in ODI, bettering the previous best of 154-run win against Zimbabwe. Rashid Khan who made his comeback in the national side after missing the one-off Test against New Zealand had picked a five-wicket haul to bundle out Temba Bavuma & Co. on just 134 runs.
Here are the records broken by the Afghanistan Cricket Team during the second ODI against South Africa at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
Gurbaz matches Kohli’s unique milestone
Gurbaz now shares a remarkable achievement with legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli, having recorded the second-most hundreds in ODI history before turning 23. With his seventh ODI century, he is just one behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa's Quinton de Kock, both of whom had eight tons before reaching that age. The 22-year-old has also set a new record for Afghanistan, surpassing former wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shahzad, who had six ODI centuries. Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran follow closely behind, each with five centuries to their names.
ALSO READ: Afghanistan scripts history, beat South Africa in second ODI to win three-match series
Rashid achieves the best ODI bowling figures on his birthday
The leg-spinner, who has been managing hamstring issues, surpassed former South African pacer Vernon Philander's record of 4 for 12 by posting impressive figures of 5 for 19, marking the best bowling performance in ODI history for a birthday player. This also marked Rashid's fifth five-wicket haul in ODIs. After Omarzai dismissed South Africa captain Temba Bavuma to break the opening partnership, Rashid took control, claiming the wickets of Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, and Willem Mulder.
Largest margin win for Afghanistan in ODI
With a commanding 177-run victory, Afghanistan achieved their largest win by runs in ODI history, surpassing their previous record of 154 runs against Zimbabwe in 2018 at the same Sharjah venue. This match also marked the fifth-largest defeat by runs for South Africa. The Proteas, who were missing several key players during the series, had previously experienced their biggest ODI loss against India in the 2023 World Cup in Kolkata.
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