NEW DELHI: Afghanistan's captain
Rashid Khan
etched his name in the
T20I record
books during his team's thrilling eight-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Eights stage of the 2024
T20 World Cup
at the Arnos Vale Ground.
The leg-spinner became the bowler with the most four-wicket hauls in Men's T20I history, further solidifying his status as one of the format's most impactful players.
T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points Table | Stats
Khan's record-breaking performance saw him claim 4 wickets for 23 runs in his allotted four overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 5.80. His victims included key Bangladeshi batsmen Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, and
Rishad Hossain
, effectively crippling Bangladesh's chase in the process.
This achievement marked Khan's ninth four-wicket haul in T20Is, surpassing Bangladesh's
Shakib Al Hasan
(8) and Uganda's Henry Ssenyondo (7) who occupy the second and third positions on the all-time list, respectively.
The match itself was a tense, low-scoring affair impacted by rain. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Afghanistan posted a fighting total of 115-5 in their 20 overs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz anchored the innings with a patient 43 off 55 deliveries, while
Ibrahim Zadran
(18) and Rashid Khan himself (19 not out) chipped in with valuable contributions. Rishad Hossain was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 26.
Rain intervened during the innings break, reducing Bangladesh's target to 114 runs from 19 overs. Despite a valiant effort from Litton Das, who top-scored with an unbeaten 54, Bangladesh fell agonizingly short of the target. Naveen-ul-Haq matched Rashid Khan's four-wicket haul, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and
Gulbadin Naib
claimed a wicket apiece to secure a memorable victory for Afghanistan.
This result also had significant ramifications for Australia's hopes in the tournament. Despite their earlier victory against Bangladesh, the Mitchell Marsh-led side were eliminated from the tournament after finishing third in Group 1 of the Super Eights stage with just two points.
Rashid Khan's record-breaking performance, coupled with a disciplined bowling display from Afghanistan, ultimately proved decisive in a rain-affected encounter.