[Watch] Rashid Khan Erupts In Joy As Rahmanullah Gurbaz Slams Brilliant Ton Vs SA In 2nd ODI

[Watch] Rashid Khan Erupts In Joy As Rahmanullah Gurbaz Slams Brilliant Ton Vs SA In 2nd ODI

Rashid applauds Gurbaz [x]

Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz stole the show in the second ODI against South Africa at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. The 22-year-old, known for his explosive style at the top of the order, played a scintillating knock to notch up his seventh ODI hundred, surpassing Mohammad Shahzad to become Afghanistan's highest century-maker in the 50-over format.

Gurbaz Enters Afghan Record Books With Record 7th ODI Century in 42 Innings

The moment of glory came in the 34th over when Rahmanullah Gurbaz, seeing the flighted delivery from Aiden Markram, executed a textbook slog sweep.

Sitting down on one knee, the Afghan opener dispatched the ball to the deep square leg boundary, bringing up his century in emphatic fashion.

As the ball kissed the ropes, the crowd erupted in a loud roar, fully appreciating the style and finesse of their star batter. In a heartwarming celebration, Gurbaz formed a heart with his hands, expressing gratitude towards the fans and his teammates.

This knock was more than just a century—it was a statement. After a relatively quiet period by his standards in the last match where has was dismissed for a duck, Gurbaz came roaring back into form.

Gurbaz’s rise has been nothing short of staggering, and his seventh century came with significant weight attached to it. By crossing Mohammad Shahzad's tally of six hundreds, Gurbaz has now cemented his position as Afghanistan's leading centurion in ODIs, a remarkable feat for someone so young.

However, just when it seemed like the opener would guide Afghanistan to an even bigger total, the game of cricket—true to its unpredictable nature—had other plans.

In the very next over after his century, South African pacer Nandre Burger returned to the attack and put the brakes on Gurbaz's innings. Bowling a back-of-a-length delivery that stayed low, Burger deceived Gurbaz, who attempted a cross-batted shot but missed. The ball sneaked past his bat and rattled the stumps, bringing an abrupt end to his majestic innings.

Afghanistan Eyeing Series Victory

Meanwhile, at the time of writing this article, Afghanistan stood strong at 193/2 after 35 overs.

Having opted to bat first, the Afghans are already leading the three-match series 1-0 and look on course to clinch the series in Sharjah.

With wickets in hand and set batters at the crease, they are in prime position to post a massive total.

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