On a night where batsmen were hitting sixes for fun and multiple records were tumbling, Rashid Khan stood tall with the only noteworthy bowling performance of the night to break a world record of his own.
Such was the dominance of batsmen in the 2nd T20I between Afghanistan and Ireland at Dehradun that Rashid Khan’s world record almost went unnoticed. But he played a key role in the middle overs, helping Afghanistan defend 278 – the highest ever T20I total – to win the second T20I by 84 runs and claim the three-match series 2-0.
Rashid returned with staggering figures of 4 for 25 in his four overs broke Shahid Afridi’s world record of claiming most numbers of T20I wickets against a single opposition. The leggie now has 24 wickets against Ireland in just nine matches at an average of 7.58.
Previously, the record stood former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who had taken 21 wickets against New Zealand in 15 games. Rashid and Afridi are followed by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (19 wickets against Windies) and Saeed Ajmal (19 against Australia).
To put Rashid’s performance on Saturday’s game into perspective, no other bowler picked up more than one wicket and 10 bowlers out of 14 used by both sides went at more than 10 runs per over. Needless to say, Rashid’s economy rate of 6.25 was by far the best of the night.
Ireland ended up with 194 for six, despite being at 126 for no loss in 11.4 overs.
The night however, belonged to Afghanistan left-hander Hazratullah Zazai, who hit the most number of sixes (16) by an individual in a T20I on his way to an unbeaten 162 of just 62 balls. Zazai’s heroics with the bat enabled Afghanistan to put on the highest T20I total of 278 for 3 on board.