Rashid takes five to keep Afghans alive
HARARE: Rashid Khan took a big leap towards becoming the quickest bowler to 100 ODI wickets when he grabbed his fourth five-wicket haul as Afghanistan overcame a top-order batting collapse to prevail over the United Arab Emirates in a Super Six fixture of the ICC World Cup Qualifier.
Rashid returned figures of 5/41 as the UAE, after electing to bat, were bowled out for 177 in 43 overs. Afghanistan plunged to 54 for five before an unfinished 124run sixth wicket partnership between Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran helped them reach the target for the loss of five wickets.
The victory in the 35th over also helped Afghanistan to narrow the gap with Ireland and the West Indies on net run-rate.
Rashid’s spell lifted him to 96 wickets from 42 ODIs and the 19-year-old now has Mitchell Starc firmly within his sights. The Australia left-arm fast bowler had reached the 100wicket milestone in 52 ODIs.
BRIEF SCORES
UAE 177 (S Anwar 64, M Naveed 45, D Zadran 3/45) lost to Afghanistan (G Naib 74, N Zadran 63, M Naveed 2/37)
SAMUELS FINED
West Indies star batsman Marlon Samuels, who was Man of the Match, has received an official reprimand and one demerit point from ICC for hitting and damaging the 30-yard circle disk with his bat on his way back to the dressing room during his side’s World Cup Qualifier against Zimbabwe.