Rashid Khan destroyed the West Indies batting line-up with amazing figures of seven for 18 to bowl Afghanistan to a stunning 63-run victory in the opening fixture of a three-match One-day International series at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Friday.
Rashid, at one stage, picked up four wickets in space of ten deliveries for just one run to leave them reeling at 70 for 6 in chase of 212.
The leg-spinner picked up his second five-wicket haul and eventually ended with 7 for 18 - the fourth best figures in ODIs after Chaminda Vaas, Shahid Afridi and Glenn McGrath.
Opener Javed Ahmadi's 81 provided the foundation for the visitors' total of 212 for six batting first.
"I have worked hard on my bowling and this was a really special effort for the people of Afghanistan who have suffered so much in the past week," said Khan on receiving the man-of-the-match award and acknowledging the devastating truck bombing that killed more than 150 people in Kabul last week, an attack that has sparked anti-government protests.
"West Indies are a big team and to achieve this against them is brilliant."
© 2024 Rediff.com -