In a momentous victory for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan played through hamstring trouble to deliver a match-winning performance, picking up a five-wicket haul as Afghanistan thrashed South Africa by 177 runs in the second ODI. This victory at Sharjah sealed Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI series win over a top-five ICC-ranked team, sending ripples through the cricket world.
Rashid, who turned 26 on the day, demonstrated his commitment and resilience, bowling through pain to finish with remarkable figures of 9-1-19-5. His brilliance with the ball crippled the South African batting lineup, allowing Afghanistan to claim the series 2-0 with one game still to play. This win marks one of the most significant milestones in Afghanistan’s cricketing journey, as they solidify their reputation as a rising force in world cricket.
Battling Through Injury
Rashid’s hamstring issues resurfaced during his brief stint with the bat in Afghanistan’s innings. He came out to bat in the 47th over and immediately felt discomfort after running a two, requiring medical attention. Despite the setback, Rashid soldiered on and finished unbeaten on six off 12 balls. However, the real question loomed: Would he be able to bowl and continue contributing to Afghanistan’s cause?
Rashid’s answer was a resounding “yes.” Speaking after the game, Rashid explained his mindset: “We had a big opportunity to win a series against South Africa, and the love for the game is just pushing you to play, doesn’t matter how hard it is. I thought I’m able to play, I’m able to bowl, I’m able to stay in the field till the end, so why not go for it?”
His determination paid off in spectacular fashion. Bowling with precision and guile, Rashid tore through South Africa’s batting order, starting with the dismissal of Heinrich Klaasen. He soon added the scalps of David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Keshav Maharaj, and Gerald Coetzee, effectively sealing South Africa’s fate.
A Historic Victory for Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s dominance in this match was built on a solid all-round team performance. Batting first, they posted a competitive total of 278 for 8 in their 50 overs, led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s stunning century. The opener smashed 129 off 138 balls, building the foundation for Afghanistan’s innings. Contributions from Rahmat Shah (57) and Mohammad Nabi (34) provided further stability.
South Africa’s bowlers, while effective in patches, struggled to contain the Afghan batters in the middle overs. The Proteas’ decision to field first after winning the toss looked promising when Marco Jansen removed opener Ibrahim Zadran cheaply. However, they failed to capitalize on that early success as Gurbaz took control of the innings.
South Africa’s chase got off to a disastrous start, as opener Reeza Hendricks fell in the second over. Rashid’s introduction further tightened the noose, and the Proteas collapsed to 101 all out, never getting close to the target. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, two of South Africa’s most experienced batters, were outmaneuvered by Rashid’s leg-spin. Afghanistan’s bowling attack worked as a cohesive unit, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman also playing key roles in building pressure on the South African batsmen.
Rashid’s Continued Injury Concerns
Rashid’s remarkable performance came amid ongoing concerns about his fitness. The hamstring issue that troubled him in this game isn’t new. Rashid had suffered a hamstring injury a month prior, which forced him to miss the final stages of The Hundred in August. Additionally, he picked up a back injury during the Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan’s domestic T20 competition, which also ruled him out of a one-off Test against New Zealand. This ODI series is his first competitive cricket in any format longer than T20 since undergoing back surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Reflecting on his injuries, Rashid expressed his desire to keep contributing to his team: “I tried my best to stay on the ground till the end, to do as much as I can for the team. Big opportunity for us as a team, to win the series against a big team, and that’s what I had in my mind: my contribution will be the key.”
Rashid credited the team’s physio for helping him push through the pain, enabling him to deliver his match-winning performance. However, his long-term fitness remains a concern, and Afghanistan will be hoping that their star player recovers fully ahead of their upcoming international commitments.
Other Injury Woes for Afghanistan
Afghanistan had another injury concern during the match, as Rahmat Shah, who scored a valuable half-century, left the field with hamstring trouble in South Africa’s innings. He was visibly struggling in the 21st over, and while Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi remains hopeful that Rahmat will recover in time for the third ODI, his participation is still uncertain. “I talked with him, he’s good inshallah, maybe he will play the next game,” Shahidi said at the post-match presentation.
South Africa’s Disappointing Tour
For South Africa, this series has been a bitter pill to swallow. They came into the series as firm favorites, ranked in the top five in ODIs, but have been thoroughly outclassed by Afghanistan in all departments. The batting lineup, in particular, has struggled against Afghanistan’s spinners, with no South African batsman able to make a meaningful contribution in either of the two games so far.
South Africa’s bowlers, while showing glimpses of their ability, have been unable to control Afghanistan’s aggressive batting approach. The Proteas will now look to avoid a whitewash in the final ODI but will need significant improvements to turn things around.
Looking Ahead
Afghanistan has one final game left in this series, scheduled to be played in Sharjah on Sunday. With the series already sealed, they may consider resting key players like Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah to ensure they are fully fit for upcoming assignments. Afghanistan’s next international tour is scheduled for December-January, where they will play all formats in Zimbabwe.
As for South Africa, they face a period of introspection ahead of their future engagements. Their inability to adapt to Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack has exposed weaknesses in their ODI setup, which they will need to address before their next series.
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